ISLAMABAD:
The Senate has passed a private member’s bill seeking to empower a parliamentary panel on matters relating to MPs’ salaries and allowances.
Senator Danesh Kumar put the Members of Parliament’s Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to vote during a Senate session on Monday. Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar did not oppose the proposed legislation.
Speaking on the occasion, Tarar said he had no objections to the bill as the National Assembly recently gave its House Finance Committee authority over salaries and allowances.
“The Senate also receives similar authority through the House Finance Committee for matters related to salaries and appropriations. A uniform policy will now apply to both chambers, so there is no opposition,” he said.
According to the statement, the objective of the bill is to provide parliament with autonomy in managing the financial affairs of its members. According to the text of the bill, the Senate House Finance Committee will review members’ financial affairs, empowering parliament to independently oversee and manage these matters.
The Senate also passed four other bills: the National Assembly Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Payment of Salaries (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Assembly Secretariat (Amendment) Bill, Islamabad Rent Restriction Bill, 2024 and Factories (Amendment) Bill. 2024.
During the session, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri’s bill on Diyat was referred to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
The Law Minister stated that while a minimum limit is defined for Diyat, a maximum limit is not specified. He clarified that in cases of reconciliation, the heirs and the affected person have the right to determine the amount of the Diyat.
Tarar added that the heirs could demand amounts as high as Rs 500 million or even Rs 1 billion, but it is the court’s responsibility to decide the amount of Diyat to be ordered.
Senator Mohsin Aziz’s Islamabad Public Health Regulation Amendment Bill 2025 was also referred to the relevant committee. Senator Zehri also introduced a resolution to provide effective consular assistance and representation to Pakistanis imprisoned abroad and facilitate their return home.
