ISLAMABAD: The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday to express solidarity with women on the International Women’s Day.
Sherry Rehman of the PPP moved the resolution on behalf of Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq, Shibli Faraz, Kamil Ali Agha, Shahi Syed, Sitara Ayaz, Azam Khan Swati, Mian Muhammad Ateeq, Nuzhat Sadiq and senators.
“Whereas 8th March is recognised as International Women’s Day, a global day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future; and to recognise the obstacles that women face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities. The Senate of Pakistan has always made endeavours for protection, empowerment and mainstreaming of women by legislating to end discrimination and violence against women; to pursue policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and promote meaningful participation of women in all aspect of their societies and communities,” the resolution said.
It reaffirmed the commitment to end discrimination and violence against women, ensure safety and welfare of women, pursue policies that guarantee the basic human rights of women and promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community.
The resolution urged the government to take all possible measures for women’s empowerment.
LAL MASJID: Minister of State for Interior Affairs Balighur Rehman told the house that former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz had denied any invitation to the militant Islamic State (IS) group by Islamabad’s Jamia Hafsa students on social media.
Senator Farhatullah Babar had asked whether the students of the seminary and Maulana Abdul Aziz had some time ago publicly invited IS chief Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi to avenge the 2007 raid on the mosque.
Replying to the question, the minister said that Maulana Aziz had, in a statement in a court, denied extending any such invitation. It was a very sensitive issue, so extreme caution was being exercised and the legal aspects were also being examined, he said.
He said the court had granted bail to Maulana Aziz on the basis of the statement.
CENSUS: The minister also said that national census would be held after ensuring availability for the purpose of armed forces’ personnel.
Responding to a calling attention notice of Nasreen Jalil and Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, he said the census had been delayed for the time being because of the army’s engagement in operation Zarb-i-Azb.
Mr Rehman said the census would be held during the tenure of this government.
BILLS: The Senate unanimously passed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2015 which aims at providing legal cover to the process of absorption and adjustment of civil servants belonging to the devolved ministries.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed piloted the bill to further amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973 as reported by the standing committee concerned.
The house also passed the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2016 seeking to bring the system at par with the international intellectual property standards, create awareness, make publication of patent applications easily accessible by the public and increase the circulation of patent information at the mass level.
Meanwhile, two reports of the Functional Committee on Human Rights and the Standing Committee on Commerce were presented in the Senate.
