Due to the absence of a PTI member in the meeting, the committee was seeking his opinion on the plan to redraw the map of Punjab.
ISLAMABAD:
A proposed constitutional amendment to create a new southern Punjab province dominated a Senate committee on Thursday, with deliberations on the bill postponed after a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) skipped the meeting, even as the committee sought opinions from provinces on the plan to redraw Punjab’s administrative and parliamentary map.
The Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice met under the chairmanship of Senator Farooq H Naek.
The committee also considered a proposed constitutional amendment to make higher education compulsory for holders of the country’s highest constitutional offices.
The committee considered a constitutional amendment bill proposed by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, proposing amendments to Article 62 of the Constitution to introduce minimum educational qualifications for major public offices. After deliberations, the committee decided to seek formal advice from provincial governments.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab had rejected the proposed amendment, while Sindh and Balochistan were asked to submit their views before the next meeting.
According to the proposed amendment, a bachelor’s degree recognized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would become mandatory for the offices of President, Prime Minister and Chief Minister. The proposal also aims to extend the training requirement to governors, assembly speakers and the president of the Senate.
The bill further proposes the insertion of a new paragraph (h) in section 62 and includes amendments requiring federal and provincial ministers to hold at least a higher education diploma.
Discussing the bill, Senator Farooq H. Naek recalled that a similar proposal was introduced during the regime of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, saying such legislation was aimed at blocking the political path of the late Benazir Bhutto.
“Musharraf did not even know that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was a graduate,” the committee chairman remarked.
The committee also considered a PTI bill proposing the creation of a new southern Punjab province. However, the bill was postponed due to the absence of the PTI member concerned.
The committee decides to give the member one last opportunity to attend the next meeting.
