ISLAMABAD:
As 2024 winds down, the year brought sweeping changes to the Senate, as elections ushered in fresh leadership, new faces and a legislative agenda that promised much but also faced major hurdles.
The upper house of parliament became a crucible for legislative debate and political drama, shaping the nation’s policy landscape while navigating a fair share of turbulence.
With new faces stepping into the parliamentary fray, the Senate played a key role in shaping the legislative landscape.
With the Senate’s parliamentary year traditionally ending on March 11, the year 2024 marked a major shift as the elections brought in new members and redefined the house’s leadership.
The PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani, a seasoned political heavyweight of the PPP, secured the Senate chairmanship, while the deputy chairmanship went to Syedaal Khan Nasar of the PML-N from Balochistan.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, also serving as deputy prime minister, took up the mantle of leader of the house, while PTI Senator Shibli Faraz was handed the reins of the opposition.
The new blood included figures like Aimal Wali Khan, Raja Nasir Abbas, Ahsan Cheema, Sarmad, Nasir Butt and Bushra Anjum Butt, setting the stage for a fresh crop of lawmakers to make their mark.
In the parliamentary year, the Senate witnessed the introduction of 52 private members’ bills and passed 40 of them. However, representation from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained conspicuously absent, with the government attributing this to the previous PTI-led provincial administration.
According to Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, the most important legislative accomplishment was the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which sailed through the Senate.
Other key bills included the madrassa registration bill, the National Forensic Agency Bill 2024, and amendments to the Pakistan Army, Air Force, and Navy Acts, among others. The government successfully passed 45 bills, while 10 resolutions addressing various issues were also adopted.
Senator Shibli Faraz, leader of the opposition, criticised the legislative priorities, asserting, “No laws in the public interest were enacted this year”.
PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhary was notably sidelined, with no production orders issued for him throughout the year.
A heated altercation between Senator Falak Naz Chitrali and Senator Faisal Vawda resulted in Chitrali’s three-day suspension by Chairman Gilani.
The arrest of former senator Mushtaq Ahmed also sparked an outcry among sitting senators, while JUI-F emerged as a key player in legislative negotiations, leveraging its five-member presence effectively.
Internal accountability
Yusuf Raza Gilani initiated an inquiry into irregular appointments under former chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, involving 502 illegal hires and 250 deputation placements. However, the probe was mysteriously shelved.
Minority senators like Dinesh Kumar were particularly active in advocating for their communities.
