The first regular session of the Senate following the recent election was characterized by both contentious exchanges and calls for cooperation to address the country’s economic challenges.
The session began with the Senate Chairman, Yousuf Raza Gilani, administering the oath to newly elected members Faisal Vawda and Maulana Abdul Wasay, who had missed the opening session on April 7.
After taking the oath, the new opposition leader, Shibli Faraz, delivered a spirited speech questioning the legitimacy of the current assemblies and calling for an investigation into discrepancies in election documents. He highlighted concerns over election symbols and alleged manipulations.
Despite these fiery exchanges, there were also conciliatory gestures from both sides. Leader of the House Ishaq Dar echoed Faraz’s call for reconciliation, emphasizing the need to work together to address Pakistan’s challenges.
Dar offered an olive branch to the opposition, urging a collective effort to move the country forward and emphasizing the importance of leaving past grievances behind. He stressed the necessity of cooperation on critical issues like privatization and energy sector reforms.
During the session, the government introduced several bills for consideration, including amendments to election and motion picture laws, as well as the establishment of a special court for overseas Pakistanis’ property matters.
The Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 was referred to a special committee due to the absence of the finance standing committee. This committee will submit its report on Monday after thorough deliberation .
