Joint sitting of parliament to pass PMDC bill

The federal cabinet has decided to get Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC) bill passed from the joint sitting of parliament to set aside Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani's observation that government must first get the bill cleared from Council of Common Interests (CCI), official sources told Business Recorder.
On January 10, 2018, Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali briefed the cabinet about various court issues pending adjudication in the superior courts. He apprised that Pakistan Medical & Dental Council bill was presented for legislation in the National Assembly which after its passage was subsequently forwarded to the Senate Secretariat. The bill was passed by the Senate Standing Committee and was placed before the House for its consideration.
He said that Chairman Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani observed that the bill requires the approval of Council of Common Interests (CCI). He stated that in order to enact the bill it is required to be presented before the joint sitting of the Parliament. However, Attorney General of Pakistan opined that federal government can legislate on this subject without going to the CCI.
According to the Attorney General of Pakistan this is an important bill and relates to regulatin matters which include registration of medical colleges and other allied matters. He apprised that the case of admission in the public/ private sector, medical colleges is pending in the courts. The cabinet was informed after passage of the bill, the issue of admission in medical colleges/ their registration will be resolved. The members of cabinet pointed out that there are many other cases which due to the difference of opinion between the houses may be referred to Parliament to be legislated in its joint sitting.
After detailed discussion, the Cabinet decided that the joint sitting of the cabinet may be convened at the earliest wherein bills like PMDC Act and other legislative matters which are pending and require approval of the parliament, may be included in the agenda of the joint sitting of the parliament.
Appointment of heads of Institutions. The federal cabinet also directed the Ministries and Divisions to initiate appointment process of heads of organisations/ departments 90 days prior to expiry of term of incumbent heads, well informed sources told Business Recorder. The instructions are issued through the Cabinet Division after the Attorney General of Pakistan stated that non appointment of heads of organisations and banking courts is creating bad impression of the government. He suggested that the instructions may be issued to the departments regarding timely start of the process before the completion of tenure of incumbent head. It was revealed that the instructions are available and have been circulated in the departments.
PEMRA
The Attorney General also briefed the cabinet that the Lahore High Court had set aside the appointment of Chairman PEMRA and directed that the process of appointment may be completed in the shortest possible time. He further stated that there is no provision regarding appointment/ assigning of additional charge, however, by invoking section 40 of the Ordinance, the Authority may make necessary orders for appointing an Acting Chairman.
After brief discussion, the cabinet decided a meeting of the PEMRA Board may be called and one member may be appointed as Acting Chairman for a short period.