Senators seek voting power

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The lawmakers across the aisle in Senate on Thursday forged unity to demand voting powers of the House in the money bill, as according to the Constitution, the money bill can only originate from the Lower House of the Parliament.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani also joined the senators and ruled that the resolutions passed by Senate reflect the aspirations of Senate as the house of federation.

“The government is advised to implement Senate resolutions pertaining to role of Senate in Finance Bill especially the PSDP in letter and spirit. We will also deliberate upon the matter in business advisory committee,” he ruled.

Speaking earlier, the Opposition Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman called for changes in the Constitution to strengthen the federation. “The Senate of Pakistan must have powers to vote for National Assembly’s money bill and this role should not be limited to giving recommendations. The money bill is the Parliament’s most important piece of legislation,” she added.

“It is Pakistan’s roadmap for the year. Given that Senate represents the crucial balance of powers between the provinces and federation, the Upper House must be allowed to vote on it in the larger interests of the country,” she maintained.

Sherry continued, “Last year, we unanimously passed a resolution in Senate which stated: This House recommends the government make necessary amendments in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, to empower the Senate of Pakistan to block the Money Bill, including the Finance Bill.”

“The Senate of Pakistan has called for these changes in the past as well, but nothing was achieved,” the PPP senator added. She cited examples of how other countries have strengthened their federations. “The Senate in Thailand rejected controversial amnesty and finance bills on numerous occasions. Moreover, in the US senate, senators have the exclusive powers to conduct impeachment trials of Presidents and other high ranking officials as juries and judge. They have tried 17 federal officials including two presidents,” she added.

Sherry said that it is not about politics rather it is about the importance of strengthening the Senate of Pakistan which is extremely important for the people, adding, “We want the Parliament to become a house of public service and we need to make an action plan with all stakeholders in the Senate.”

“The Senate must be empowered and all the members of the Senate should be united on one common goal which is strengthening the powers of the Upper House. Only a strong and powerful Senate can protect the interests of the federation and its federating units,” she said.

Other senators who also vociferously called for empowering the Senate included Gen Abdul Qayyum (retd), Farooq H Naek, Mohsin Aziz, Jehanzeb Jamaldini, Azam Musakhail, Talah Mehmood and Tahir Bizenjo.