RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday unanimously adopted the recommendations made by its Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatisation on ‘The Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2014’.

The Senate rejected by a majority vote Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Amendment Ordinance that sought to vest the federal government with powers to control the regulatory body. The Ordinance was laid in the Senate last week and as per the Constitution any member can move a resolution calling for its disapproval citing reasons for the same. The disapproval resolution was jointly moved by PPP Senators Farhatullah Babar and Raza Rabbani.

Speaking on the resolution, Senator Babar said the PMDC was an autonomous regulatory body which under a federal legislation was responsible for establishing uniform minimum standard of medical education, regulate the conduct of medical and dental practitioners across Pakistan and monitor and maintain standards of medical education.

He said all regulatory bodies, the medical education and related institutions fell under the items listed in Part-II of the Federal Legislative List, the policy formulation for which was the responsibility of Council of Common Interests (CCI). He said that under Article 154 of the Constitution policy formulation in matters listed in Part 11 of the Federal Legislative List is the responsibility of the Council of Common Interests and not of the federal government and PMDC being a regulatory body was the responsibility of CCI.

He said in no case the federal government could take over the functions of the regulatory body. He said there was also an element of mystery behind the move. First, the federal government on March 20, 2014 notified the names of the management committee but quickly withdrew them the same day only to re-notify them a week later.

This is a questionable exercise of the authority that raised the question as to who is behind it and ask if some elements who wish to set up substandard medical institutions were behind it. The resolution was put to vote which the House disapproved. State Minister for Interior Baleeghur Rehman told the House that the government is taking strict measures to address the issue of sectarian violence in the country and legislation is also being done in this regard.

He said 2,090 persons have been killed in different sectarian attacks throughout the country since 2008. To a question, he said the government is taking appropriate steps to control cyber crimes in the country, adding that Prevention of Cyber Crime Act has been prepared and will be submitted to Cabinet for approval soon. He said the government is also taking measures to control unregistered SIMs.

Replying to a call attention notice moved by Ilyas Ahmad Bilour regarding stoppage of vehicles carrying wheat by the provincial government of Punjab from entering into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said that no such ban has been imposed by the Punjab government. He said late harvesting of wheat has created some hurdles in the transportation of wheat and the matter will be resolved after the completion of wheat harvesting.

Minister for Law and Justice Pervaiz Rashid laid before the House “Federal Judicial Academy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014,” which was referred to the concerned committee. Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal laid before the House another report of Pakistan Vision 2025 and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He also moved a motion seeking discussion on Pakistan Vision 2025 and MDGs.

The House was prorogued sine die.