ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar on Monday demanded of the government to take appropriate step for the recovery of missing persons. Taking part in a discussion on a motion on women rights, Farhatullah Babar drew attention of the prime minister towards the plight of a section of women who he said were the “most wretched and most unfortunate”, even among the women who were generally dispossessed, deprived and most discriminated against. “Mr prime minister, I wish to draw your attention towards the women whose brothers, sons, husbands and fathers have disappeared mysteriously without a trace in Balochistan, Sindh, FATA and KP and all doors are shut on them,” he said addressing the PM who also attended the session briefly. Acknowledging that the new prime minister had started on a positive note, he asked Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to heed the recent report of the Senate committee, recommending measures to address the issue of missing persons in the country. All the 104 members of Senate have recommended unanimously to adopt legislation to bring the state agencies under the ambit of the law, as advised also by the Supreme Court, he said. Unless the issue of missing persons that has affected women the most is addressed in right earnest, all talk of empowering women or addressing their issues will be futile, he said. Meanwhile, Babar said that keeping the status quo in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) was no longer in national interest and proposed that its people be given representation in the Senate and the National Assembly, as is available to FATA, as well as share in the NFC award. Taking part in discussion on his motion on empowering the people and Legislative Assembly of GB in the Senate, he said that all fundamental rights under the constitution should be extended to GB without further delay. “If the coercive laws of the state were extended by Islamabad like the military courts and anti terror law at the stroke of the pen, there was no reason why the human rights-related laws were not being extended to these people of GB.” He said that the objection by some that “reforms in GB would undermine the state’s position on the Kashmir dispute” was spurious. “If the territory of GB was really so much disputed, how CPEC projects could have been signed, which passes through the territory of GB, and how Bhasha Dam project could be planned.” Babar said that GB was the only territory whose people first secured their independence from the Dogra and then voluntarily joined Pakistan and yet the state was reluctant to give them their rights. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi assured the Senate to attend its session as per schedule and to play his role for resolving the outstanding issues. In his brief and maiden address in the Senate after assuming the Prime Minister’s Office, he assured the House of attending the session and asked Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq to apprise him of the issues. Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani welcomed the prime minister in the House and hoped that he would play his role for strengthening democratic process and parliament. He quoted the Rule 61 of the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012, which was about raising matters of public importance under prime minister’s zero hour. Sub-rule (2A) of Rule 61 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate states that the chief executive shall attend the prime minister’s zero hour (last hour of the sitting) at least once a week when the Senate is in session. Leader of the Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan also welcomed Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in the House. He said that appearance of the prime minister in the House would enrich its importance. Senator Farhatullah Babar on Monday also moved a bill for amendment to Article 63A and asked for right of vote for a lawmaker in the House on the matter of constitutional amendment as per his/her choice and conscience. Article 63A was mainly about the disqualification on grounds for defection and Senator Farhatullah Babar moved the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (Amendment of Article 63A). According to the statement of ‘objects and reasons’, the supremacy of constitution was a basis of Pakistan’s constitutional and political system. Parliament exercises supremacy within the jurisdiction assigned to it by the constitution, he said. The existing provision under sub-paragraph (iii) of paragraph (b) of clause (1) of Article 63A could not allow the members of parliament to vote in according with their conscience on a matter of constitutional amendment. “It negated the spirit of the constitution and the supremacy of parliament, and needs to be amended.” The Upper House of Parliament on Monday considered heavy legislative agenda appearing on ‘orders of the day’ and witnessed introduction of 21 private members’ bills as well as passage of two other bills. There were 88 agenda items appearing on ‘orders of the day’ and the Senate considered all legislative agenda, which included 26 private members’ bills appearing for introduction and five private members’ bills for passage. Out of 26 bills, the House witnessed introduction of 21 bills and all of them were referred to the relevant committees. Three other bills were rejected, one was not taken up for not fulfilling balloting criteria and one was deferred on the request of the mover. The Senate passed four resolutions. The first resolution recommended the government to launch a special channel of the state television PTV to broadcast parliamentary proceedings of federal and provincial legislatures. The second resolution recommended the government to improve the quality of front page of Pakistani official passports and to increase its pages. The third resolution asked the government to take immediate steps to help the people affected by recent rains and floods in districts Musakhel, Zhob and Sherani. The fourth resolution recommended the government to construct more small hydroelectric dams to control load shedding in the country. The House will meet today (Tuesday) at 3pm. Published in Daily Times, August 22nd 2017.