The upper house of the Parliament on Monday passed two private member bills; The Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2018 and The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019 moved by the senators from the treasury benches.
The Islamabad Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2018 seeks to establish the Real Estate Regulatory Authority for regulation and promotion of the real estate sector in the jurisdiction of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
During the Senate proceedings, the bill's mover Mohsin Aziz from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) informed the house that the bill had been passed by the relevant Senate committee, following which he presented the bill, which was subsequently passed by the house through voice vote.
Initially named as "Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill 2017", the bill was originally meant to be applied across Pakistan. Later, however, following certain amendments, the bill's jurisdiction was reduced to the ICT only.
The bill, in its existing form, was referred to the relevant Senate standing committee on January 13, this year.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill 2019 was moved by Ateeq Shaikh from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
The bill seeks to "devise a counterterrorism strategy that should address short, medium and long-term goals and devise action plans for their implementation."
Moreover, two other private member bills, The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act 2020 moved by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader in Senate Sherry Rehman, and The Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (Amendment) Bill, 2020, moved by Sassui Palijo from the PPP were referred to the Senate committees' concerned.
The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Bill 2020 seeks to take steps for the prevention of custodial deaths and award strict punishments to the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution moved by Mushahid Hussain Sayed from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The resolution "acclaims strong leadership of President Xi Jinping in leading the very successful operation to combat coronavirus."
According to the resolution, the Senate "expresses its appreciation to the Government of China for treating Pakistani citizens, especially students in Wuhan just like their own citizens, providing them protection and comfort."
The resolution said, the Senate extends full cooperation to Chinese brethren in this difficult moment of the coronavirus crisis.
"The Pakistan Senate is the first Parliament in the world to express such solidarity and support to China in the coronavirus crisis." The Senate resolution lauds the government and people of China for combating the coronavirus crisis with "dedication, commitment and courage."
The Senate also unanimously passed another resolution moved by PPP's Rehman Malik that called upon the federal government to move a resolution in the UNSC asking for "fixing the date of plebiscite for self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir."
The resolution asks the "International Human Rights Council in Geneva to send its delegation to investigate human rights violations in IoK (Indian Occupied Kashmir) and take up the matter of Kashmir in the OIC (Organisation for Islamic Cooperation)."
The resolution "paid rich tributes to the people of Kashmir and states: who have sacrificed their lives for their right of self-determination." The Senate would meet again on Tuesday (today) at 3pm.