ISLAMABAD: As many as 33 bills seeking establishment of higher education institutions landed in the Senate on Monday, when the house met with a record 122 items on the agenda.

While two of the bills were passed, the rest were referred to the standing committee concerned. All these bills have already been passed by the National Assembly — 29 of them in a single day.

Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain strongly advocated for the approval of educational bills that had received the seal of approval from the Higher Education Commission. The two bills that sailed through the Senate included Senator Saleem Mandviwalla’s “The Federal Ziauddin University Bill, 2023” and Senator Naseebullah Bazai’s “The Prime University of Nursing Sciences Technology Islamabad Bill, 2023”.

The Senate also passed three bills presented by Senators Hafiz Abdul Karim, Kamran Murtaza and Shahdat Awan. They were: The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023; The Protection of Family Life and Wedlock Bill, 2023; and The Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Two passed, rest referred to standing committee

The bill seeking to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to enhance punishment for those who disrespect the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other religious figures was also introduced in the house. PML-N’s Hafiz Abdul Karim and Mushtaq Ahmad of Jamaat-i-Islami were the movers of the bill, which has already been adopted by the National Assembly.

The bill was titled “The Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023”.

Explaining the amendment bill, Senator Mushtaq said that fine and sentence had been increased to ensure no one dares to pass any derogatory remarks and defame the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and other religious figures.

He said that under the PPC, the punishment was for three years, but it has been increased now and accordingly, an amendment is proposed in CrPC.

Some treasury members, including Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, wanted the bill’s referral to the house standing committee, adopting the standard procedure. Reacting to one member’s remarks with his mike off, she said with threat and coercion, there could be no legislation in the house.

She also said members had not yet gone through the bill and, therefore, it should be referred to the committee concerned, as there was a consensus in the house that legislation should not be done in haste. “How can we pass a bill without reading it,” she remarked.

Senators Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Hafiz Abdul Karim and Prof Sajid Mir expressed the hope that the bill would help promote sectarian harmony in the country and deter the elements which wanted to resort to disgrace sacred personalities.

The Senate also unanimously passed the Civil Servants (Amendments) Bill, 2023, ensuring that only civil servants from the Engineering Service of Pakistan and registered professional engineers can hold high executive posts in government organisations handling infrastructure, energy, communication and construction projects for enhanced competence and public safety.

The bill was moved by Senator Engineer Rukhsana Zuberi. A new proviso and explanation will be introduced in it stating that no civil servant shall be assigned to any ministry, division or department under the government dealing with infrastructure, energy, water, communication and works unless they are part of the Engineering Service of Pakistan and hold registration as a professional engineer or engineer according to the Pakistan Engineering Council Act 1976 (V of 1976).

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023