ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan Senator Kamran Murtaza on Monday voiced strong opinions regarding the limitations of the caretaker government’s authority, stressing that extensions or significant appointments did not fall within its purview.
Senator Murtaza asserted that Section 230 of the Election Act, 2017 explicitly restricted the caretaker government from making any major appointments or extensions.
During the session, he also addressed the establishment of a separate ministry for handling issues related to the minerals of Balochistan.
Expressing his concerns, Murtaza questioned the justification behind such a decision, urging for accountability and transparency in the decision-making process.
Senators Discuss Private Members’ Bills
Meanwhile, the Upper House of Parliament witnessed the introduction of three private members’ bills and deferred seven bills due to the absence of relevant lawmakers.
Three bills introduced in the Senate included the Pakistan Names and Emblems (Prevention of Unauthorised Use) (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Banking Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The bills were referred to the relevant committees for further consideration as the relevant ministers did not oppose discussing them in detail in committee meetings.
Seven other bills were deferred by the Senate due to the absence of relevant legislators. These bills were the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2023 the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (Substitution of section 289 of PPC and subsequent amendment in schedule II of Cr. PC); the Right of Access to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
