Latest news with #SocietiesRegistration(Amendment)Bill
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Critical national & global issues: NA adopts series of resolutions
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted a series of resolutions addressing a range of critical national and international issues, including the ongoing Israeli military aggression in Gaza, honour killings, and the safeguarding of digital rights. The first resolution, tabled by Shazia Marri of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), condemned in unequivocal terms the Israeli military aggression in Gaza, expressing grave concern over civilian casualties, large-scale destruction of infrastructure, and violations of international humanitarian law. The resolution also denounced recent statements from Israeli authorities regarding the long-term occupation of Gaza and the forced displacement of its population, characterising such actions as war crimes under international law. The house called upon the United Nations and the broader international community to intervene decisively to halt hostilities, ensure unimpeded humanitarian access, and uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, including their pursuit of self-determination. It urged the government to raise the issue forcefully at global forums such as the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In a separate resolution, Shahida Rehmani, also of the PPP, drew the House's attention to the rising incidents of so-called honour killings across various provinces. The resolution underscored the need for a zero-tolerance approach to such crimes and proposed the formation of an interprovincial task force to coordinate efforts in combating this form of violence. Another significant resolution, introduced by NosheenIftikhar of the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N), addressed the protection of citizens' fundamental rights in the digital sphere. It advocated for stricter legislation against unauthorised video recordings, cyber harassment, and digital defamation. It further recommended bolstering the capacity of law enforcement agencies, especially digital forensic units, and called for the establishment of complaint desks within police stations. The resolution also proposed the integration of educational content on digital ethics, privacy rights, and anti-harassment legislation into school curricula, alongside the launch of public awareness campaigns to inform citizens of their digital rights and available legal remedies. In legislative business, the House passed two bills: the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, both tabled by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry. Additionally, the government introduced the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Motor Vehicles Industry Development Bill, 2025, also moved by Chaudhry. Two ordinances were laid before the House: the Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, presented by the Minister of State for Interior, and the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025, tabled by Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain. Addressing a calling attention notice, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry stated that a major water infrastructure project is under consideration to address the water requirements of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. He added that the installation of recharge wells is also underway to enhance groundwater levels. On the matter of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) employees, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry informed the House that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a committee to explore a golden handshake scheme for resolving outstanding employee issues. In a separate briefing, Minister of State for Climate Change, Shezra Kharal, said that a national climate finance strategy is in the works to promote green financing both domestically and internationally. She highlighted the launch of the Recharge Pakistan initiative, aimed at ensuring water conservation and building climate-resilient infrastructure. Collaborative efforts with provincial governments are also underway to curb deforestation, she added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NA overrules JUI-F, passes seminary bill
The National Assembly on Wednesday passed two bills including the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 as passed by the Senate. Both the bills were moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Talal Chauhdry in the House. According to the statement of objects and reasons of Societies Registration Bill 2025, Deeni Madaris have been registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. However, it is proposed that those Madaris and Wafaqs already registered or desirous to get registered directly with Directorate General of Religious Education, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional training shall be reckoned to have been registered. The statement of objects and reasons of the Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 says that in an effort to comply with the requirements of GSP+, and Pakistan's international commitments under ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), three meetings with all stakeholders were held — to review reduction of the death penalty in order to bring it in line with international law and Islamic jurisprudence. The Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control proposed the draft Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposing omission of death penalty from Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 with an alternative punishment of life imprisonment in the relevant sections, the statement added. Alyia Kamran of the JUI-F sought to refer the bill to the standing committee for further deliberation but the house passed the motion with 87 votes in its favour while 41 against it. The house passed the bills through clause by clause reading. Speaking in the National Assembly, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said that harsh sentences did not necessarily deter crime. He said European countries where death penalty did not exist, yet the crime rate was just two per cent. Moreover, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah referred the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025 to the concern standing committee with a direction to report back within 15 days to House. The Law Minister informed the House that the bill was passed by the Senate but it could not process due to dissolution of the National Assembly. He said that the bill aimed at bringing transparency in government departments. He requested the chair to refer the bill to the committee but with specific time to report back to the House. Meanwhile, Talal Chaudhry moved the motion to refer the Pakistan Coast Guards (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to the joint sitting for consideration and passage under sub rule (7) of the rule 154 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 read with clause (3) of Article 70 of the constitution. Two news bills As many as two new bills including the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Motor Vehicles Industry Development Bill, 2025 were introduced in the National Assembly on Wednesday. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry and National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain introduced the bills in the National Assembly respectively. Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah referred both the bills to the concerned standing committees for detailed deliberation. Meanwhile, two ordinances included the Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 (Ordinance No. III of 2025) and the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025 (Ordinance No. VI of 2025) were laid before the National Assembly as required by clause (2) of Article 89 of the Constitution. The ordinances were laid by State Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry and National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain in the House respectively. Moreover, as many as four reports of various standing committees including Interior and Narcotics Control and Cabinet Secretariat were presented in the House. Chairman Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control Raja Khurram Shahzad presented the report of the Standing Committee on the bill further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 [The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2024] (Ordinance No. VI of 2023) in the House. Similarly, Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Ibrar Ahmad presented three reports of the committee including the Asaan Karobar Bill, 2025, the National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the bill further to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973 [The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025] in the House.
Express Tribune
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Senate passes bill on seminary registration
The TEVTA would also start training programmes for seminary teachers in the coming days PHOTO: ONLINE Listen to article The Senate on Friday passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which stipulates Deeni Madaris already registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, or those opting for direct registration with the Directorate General of Religious Education, will be deemed duly registered. Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, while presenting the bill, informed the Senate that two parallel streams exist for seminary registration: one includes religious seminaries affiliated with the federal government, functioning under a structured system and registered through formal procedures. According to the statement of objects and reasons, Deeni Madaris have been registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. However, it is proposed that those Madaris and Wafaqs already registered or desirous to get registered directly with Directorate General of Religious Education, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional training shall be reckoned to have been registered. Tarar said the second stream emerged after the Army Public School (APS) attack, when the National Action Plan called for reforms to introduce contemporary subjects and government-prepared syllabi in madrassahs to align religious education with modern academic needs. He said religious boards, including Wafaq-ul-Madaris, agreed to the reforms, and a policy shift later made madrassah registration mandatory, resulting in thousands being registered. Institutions opting to remain under their internal boards could still register under the traditional Societies Registration Act, but must meet standard requirements like clearance from the deputy commissioner and district security committee. He said, "In the case of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), it has been ensured that registration takes place under the Societies Registration Act through the Directorate of Religious Education." He added that although the earlier registration process was discontinued temporarily, both streams now remain functional in many areas. "There may be slight differences in the forms, but the main objective is the same: ensuring students at seminaries receive a verified syllabus that includes modern subjects and access to qualified teachers." Multiple reports Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control presented several reports of the committee on various legislative bills in the Upper House on Friday. On behalf of Chairman committee Faisal Saleem Rehman, Senator Shahdat Awan presented the report of the committee on the National Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2023, which was introduced by Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur on November 27, 2023. Senator Shahdat Awan presented another report on a bill to further amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 [The Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024], introduced by Senator Fawzia Arshad on June 10, 2024, on behalf of Senator Saleem Rehman. The bill proposes the insertion of new sections 344B, 344C, 344D, and 344E into the Code. Shahadat Awan presented another report on a bill to amend the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 [The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024], moved by Senator Palwasha Mohammed Zai Khan on September 2, 2024. On behalf of Chairman, Senator Shahadat Awan presented the committee's report on protection of Shamilat Land Protection Bill, 2024, also introduced by Senator Palwasha Mohammed Zai Khan. The bill aims to protect Shamilat lands in Islamabad Capital Territory from encroachment by converting them into forests, parks, playgrounds, and community centers.
Business Recorder
14-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Gilani distanced himself from over 600pc pay raise
ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani has distanced himself from over 600 percent raise in his salary, saying he has 'nothing to do' with this development. 'I was not consulted by anyone in this regard. I have nothing to do with my salary raise,' Gilani told the media, when asked about unprecedented raise in his salary, on the sidelines of the Senate session on Friday. Asked whether he was going to 'reverse' this raise by returning the increased salary, Gilani replied, 'get it reversed, it would be a good thing to do.' Federal government as well as the custodians of the two Houses of the Parliament are under massive public criticism following the surfacing of a government notification from last month in which over 600 percent increase in the salaries of the chairman Senate, speaker National Assembly, deputy chairman Senate and deputy speaker NA was notified. Conspicuously, feeling the heat of public criticism, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif joined the public circles in slamming this raise, terming it 'financial vulgarity,' in a recent post on X. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also appeared 'defensive'— with reports suggesting that the PM 'took notice' of the matter, and ordered an inquiry into massive pay raise and other perks for NA speaker and deputy speaker as well as Senate chairman and deputy chairman. 'I respect the defence minister — but I have nothing to do with the pay raise,' Gilani told reporters on Friday. Meanwhile, the chairman Senate presided over the Senate session. The House unanimously passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Law Minister Azam Tarar. The bill deals with the registration of religious seminaries. Last December, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced the plan to launch a protest movement to push the government to enact this legislation. Later, he postponed the planned protest reportedly after the government assured him to resolve the matter. The House also passed a unanimous resolution in condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran. Moved by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the resolution expressed concern over what it described was inaction of Muslim world against genocide of Palestinians, 'which has now led Israel to attack another sovereign Muslim state Iran.' 'The world and Muslim Ummah are witnessing the slaughter of innocent children and civilians in Gaza for the last two years on an unimaginable scale,' said the resolution. The House, through its resolution, said it stands resolute with Iranian brethren and supports their right to defend themselves against Israeli aggression. Earlier, the House commenced discussion on the proposed federal budget in which senators from different political parties participated. The Senate was adjourned till Monday. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
