Senate of Pakistan passes resolution demanding holding of general elections for NA, provincial assemblies simultaneously
ISLAMABAD, April 10 (SABAH): The Senate of Pakistan on Monday passed a resolution demanding that the general elections for the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies should be held simultaneously for strengthening the federation.
The resolution moved by Tahir Bazenjo noted that the House firmly believes that political stability is important for economic stability.
It said that according to the spirit of article 280, the general elections for all the assemblies must be held simultaneously on its stipulated time under neutral caretaker setups to bring true political and economic stability.
The resolution noted that holding separate elections in Punjab will inevitably influence the outcome of general elections to the National Assembly’s seats in Punjab which will trample upon the role of small provinces in the federation.
Earlier, speaking on the floor, Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Shazia Marri said government is working to provide relief to poor people. She said the government has given four hundred and four billion rupees for Benazir Income Support Program.
Shazia Marri opposed the resolution on the Federal Ehsaas Rashan Riayat Program saying the previous government did not make any budgetary allocations for this program.
Winding upon discussion on a motion, Minister for Power Khurram Dastagir said that three thousand three hundred megawatts of electricity is being produced from Thar Coal project.
He said four of the Thar Coal projects which faced criminal delay during the previous government have been completed over the last eleven months.
The Minister said Thar Coal projects are a manifestation of cooperation between the federal and provincial government of Sindh.
Khurram Dastgir said that 88 percent work on the second transmission line from Thar has been completed and it will be completed in the next four weeks.
Responding to the points of the opposition members, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar said the coalition government is not running away from the elections, but the simultaneous conduct of the elections is important to strengthen the federation and achieve political and economic stability.
He also reminded that the PTI had violated the constitution when the National Assembly was dissolved last year in a matter of few minutes.
Meanwhile, the Upper House passed three bills on Monday which include National Disaster Management Amendment Bill, 2022, Export Processing Zones Authority Amendment Bill and Pakistan Environmental Protection Amendment Bill.
The Anti-Rape Investigation and Trial Amendment Bill and the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill were laid before the House today.
The chair referred the bills to the standing committees concerned.
At the outset, the House offered fateha for the security personnel martyred in recent acts of terrorism in the country. The House has now been prorogued.