ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed six private members’ bills, including the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was approved by 10 votes to four despite opposition from the government.
The consumer protection bill was introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry opposed the legislation, triggering a heated exchange between lawmakers during the session.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri criticised the government’s opposition to the bill, saying ministers neither performed their own work nor allowed others to do theirs.
She said the government opposed every bill presented in the House and questioned its approach toward private members’ legislation.
Responding to her remarks, Talal Chaudhry questioned why the issue was being made personal, while Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said a minister did not have a personal opinion on such matters.
Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman questioned why the government opposed legislation in the House after it had already been approved by a parliamentary committee.
He said there was little justification for referring bills to committees if the government subsequently opposed them when they returned to the House.
Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri also criticised the deferment of a bill concerning honour killings, saying the legislation addressed an important issue.
Following the debate, the House voted on the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which secured 10 votes in favour and four against, resulting in its passage despite government opposition.
The Senate also passed the Islamabad Capital Territory (Prohibition of Plastic Book Covers) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Iqra Global University Bill, 2026, and the Special Technology Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Other approved legislation included the Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The six private members’ bills were moved by Senators Sherry Rehman, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Sarmad Ali and Samina Mumtaz Zehri. The House passed the legislation through clause-by-clause consideration.
Meanwhile, seven new private members’ bills were introduced during the session and referred to the relevant standing committees for further deliberation.
The proposed legislation included the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Islamabad Capital Territory Motor Vehicles (Regulation of Tinted Glass) Bill, 2026, and the Iqbaliyat (Promotion in Educational Institutions) Bill, 2026.
Other bills introduced included the Criminal Laws (Protection of Elderly Parents and Senior Dependent Family Members) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the De-colonisation of Public Administration and Institutional Dignity Bill, 2026, the Auditor General’s Recommendations (Implementation) Bill, 2026, and the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The bills were moved by Senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Zarqa Suharwardy and Mohammad Abdul Qadir.
Presiding Officer Senator Shahadat Awan referred all seven bills to the concerned standing committees for detailed consideration.
The House also witnessed the withdrawal of three private members’ bills, including the Indecent Advertisements Prohibition (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
During the session, PPP Senator Rubina Khalid raised concerns over the closure of Islamabad’s Sunday Bazaar due to inadequate fire safety arrangements.
She said senators were also among those who purchased food items from the market and questioned whether major shopping malls and commercial plazas had adequate fire safety measures in place.
Rubina Khalid said the closure of the Sunday Bazaar raised questions about the enforcement of fire safety requirements at other commercial establishments in Islamabad.
Separately, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam presented a resolution in the Senate condemning India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.
The resolution said India had forcibly occupied Kashmir on October 27 and described the occupation as illegitimate.
It supported the right of the Kashmiri people to determine their own future and called on the United Nations to ensure implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir.
The resolution also called on the government of Pakistan to continue extending diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiri people.
