ISLAMABAD: The senate on Thursday passed the National Command Authority (amendment) Bill 2016 giving the powers for the disbursement of funds to the federal government instead of the finance division. The bill, which was moved to the House by Interior State Minister Baleeghur Rehman, also states that employees in service of the National Command Authority (NCA) are not civil servants. Instead, the legal relationship of the NCA with its employees is governed under the master and servant doctrine. Furthermore, the bill would also prevent the abuse of the legal process with respect to the affairs of the state. “Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment decree, order, direction or declaration of any court including the Supreme Court of Pakistan or in this act or in any other law for the time being in force, the rules, instructions or orders already made, or which may be made, in respect of the employees and strategic organizations of the Authority shall be non-statutory unless approved by the federal government and published in the official gazette of Pakistan,” said the amendment adopted by the House. The bill further stated, “the federal government shall ensure provision of funds and make contributions in local and foreign currencies to the Authority through Strategic Plans Division as may be necessary to the Authority.” Senate Defense Committee Chairman, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that the committee had discussed the bill in detail and passed it with an overwhelming majority. “We have followed the democratic and parliamentary procedures. So, this bill should be passed as it is in supreme national interest”, he said. During discussion on the bill, Senator Farhatullah Babar who had also given a dissenting note at the committee level, once again recorded his dissent on the bill. On his dissent, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani said, “We all worked according to our conscience. We have passed all stages and now we have to put this bill to the House”.