Senators reject Pakistan Future Council Bill

 A majority of senators have opposed the Pakistan Future Council Bill 2023 in the Upper House of the Parliament, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday

Senator Sania Nishtar presented it, stressing that there should be an institution for the continuity of policies even after regime change.

She argued that developed countries have such councils. However, Saadia Abbasi, Sherry Rehman, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Mushahid Hussain Syed opposed it and said that in a parliamentary system, the opposition and parliamentary committees played the role of watchdog.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti did not oppose it and suggested referring it to the committee concerned.

Rejecting it, Sadia Abbasi of PML-N said such a council is not currently required. Senator Sherry Rehman suggested the matter be rested with the new government.

JUI’s Maulana Ghafoor Hydari said the parliament is not complete and there is no need for it. Senator Dr Humayun Mohmand’s common sense remarks about that lack of common sense invited lawmakers' reaction.

As the senators recorded their protest against his remarks the chairman expunged those words. During the session, another 16 bills were presented and referred to the committees concerned for deliberations.