Senate passes consumer protection, criminal procedure bills

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed the Islamabad Consumers Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2026, despite opposition from the government, and approved an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, while deferring the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill, 2026.

The consumer protection bill, moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, secured 10 votes in favour and four against, according to proceedings of the Senate session presided over by Senator Shahadat Awan.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry opposed the bill, while Zehri criticised the government for opposing legislation, saying it neither worked itself nor allowed others to work.

“Every bill is opposed,” she said.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry responded that a minister’s position did not necessarily reflect a personal opinion.

Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman questioned why bills approved by parliamentary committees faced opposition when presented before the House, suggesting that lawmakers should decide on them in the chamber rather than referring them to committees.

Zehri also expressed concern over the postponement of an important bill concerning honour killings.

The Senate also passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by Senator Sarmad Ali, and the Iqra Global University Bill, 2026, moved by Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir.

However, the House deferred the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill, 2026, introduced by Sarmad Ali.

The Imports and Exports (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, moved by Abdul Qadir, was also deferred after Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry opposed it.

The House also considered the Special Technology Zones Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022, moved by Abdul Qadir, which was passed.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Motor Vehicles (Regulation of Black Tinted Glasses) Bill, 2026, introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, was referred to the relevant standing committee.

During the session, Senator Rubina Khalid raised concerns over the proposed closure of Islamabad’s Sunday bazaar over the lack of fire safety arrangements.

She asked the authorities to clarify whether large shopping malls and plazas in the capital had adequate fire safety measures in place, noting that residents relied on the Sunday bazaar to purchase groceries and other essential items.

Ali Zafar raises concerns over ECP’s changes to KP constituency boundaries in Senate

Senator Ali Zafar on Monday raised serious concerns in the Senate over changes to the boundaries of several national and provincial assembly constituencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that the revisions were made without hearing public objections.

Zafar cited constituencies 233, 234, 236, 238, 243, 244 and 245, alleging that the changes had been made to help certain candidates win elections. He called on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withdraw and cancel the notification.

He said the changes violated Section 22 of the Elections Act, 2017, and stressed that the electoral body’s primary responsibility was to ensure free and fair elections and hear public objections before altering constituency boundaries.

Responding to the concerns, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the matter was being discussed on the basis of a newspaper report and asked members to share any official notification.

He said he would seek further information from the ECP.

Meanwhile, Senator Mashal Yousafzai alleged that serious human rights violations had been taking place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past 20 days.

She said KP and Balochistan had become the country’s most deprived regions and alleged that the mandate of the elected chief minister and speaker of KP had been undermined.

Yousafzai also alleged that provincial lawmakers were being forcibly disappeared and that the public mandate was being undermined under the pretext of countering terrorism. She questioned the removal of PTI flags and signboards, asking whether the party’s flags were being treated as symbols of terrorism.

She further alleged that the sanctity of homes and traditional Pashtun values were being violated, adding that her party had never targeted political opponents’ homes while in government.

The Senate offered prayers for the late former army chief General Abdul Waheed Kakar, with Maulana Noorul Haq Qadri leading the prayer.

The sitting was adjourned until 11:30am on Tuesday.