PPP Senators discuss recently passed senate legislation

Liaquat Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party Senators Saleem Mandviwala, Ms. Palwasha Khan, and Shahadat Awan held a press conference at the party’s Central Secretariat in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss key legislative developments in the Senate recently.

Speaking at the press conference, Senator Saleem Mandviwala announced that the Senate had unanimously passed the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Act, 2022, which comes into immediate effect. He emphasized that this Act is designed to empower journalists and media professionals to resolve their issues without the need to approach courts, police, or legislators. Senator Mandviwala congratulated the journalistic community on the passage of the Bill, stating that the PPP has always prioritized legislation that benefits people across all sectors of society.

“This is a facilitative — not a regulatory — law for the journalist community,” he clarified. “The Pakistan Peoples Party legislates for the welfare of the people.”, he said.

Senator Mandviwala further noted that the Senate had also unanimously passed the National Institute of Health (Re-organization) (Amendment) Act, 2024. He underscored the significance of this Bill, highlighting Pakistan’s lack of a comprehensive cancer patient registry. “Cancer is a deadly disease, and without data, we cannot understand its true burden. This registry will identify the types of cancer prevalent in different regions and support a national action plan for cancer prevention and treatment.”

In response to media queries, Senator Mandviwala confirmed that mechanisms would be put in place to ensure the effective implementation of the journalists’ protection law. “This legislation addresses a wide range of challenges faced by journalists, and if improvements are needed, we are open to amending it further,” he added.

Addressing questions about cancer patient registration, Senator Mandviwala recalled the inter-provincial cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Provinces can adopt this legislation as well. The cancer registry will help relevant departments analyze accurate and timely data, he said.

On the broader political situation, Senator Shahadat Awan addressed questions about the administration of oaths for reserved seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. He clarified that the Constitution clearly outlines the oath-taking process. The Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court acted constitutionally when he directed the Governor to administer the oath, he explained.

Responding to a question on the 18th Constitutional Amendment, Senator Awan stated, that two major constitutional events took place with complete national consensus — the 1973 Constitution and the 18th Amendment. Any attempt to alter the 18th Amendment is out of the question, he stressed.

Commenting on the events of 9th May 2023, Senator Palwasha Khan described them as “shameful” and “an attempt to incite mutiny within the military. She reiterated that the Pakistan Peoples Party and its leadership had unequivocally condemned the events. There is concern that some individuals involved in the failed conspiracy have fled the country. They must be brought back. While no innocent person should be punished, no guilty party should go unpunished, she asserted.

Senator Palwasha Khan also highlighted that President Asif Ali Zardari is the only civilian president to serve a second term in office, expressing full confidence that he will successfully complete his tenure.