ISLAMABAD, Feb 12 (APP): The Senate on Thursday passed several important pieces of legislation, including amendments related to electronic media regulation, newspaper employees’ service conditions, citizenship laws and senior citizens’ welfare, while also approving extensions for committee reports and receiving standing committee findings on pending matters.
The House approved two motions under Rule 194(1) extending the time for submission of committee reports.
A motion moved by Senator Afnan Ullah Khan on behalf of Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, granted a 60-day extension from Feb 5, 2026, for presenting a report on a public importance issue raised earlier regarding the alleged harassment of women by the chancellor of the Federal Urdu University.
Similarly, Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi, on behalf of Senator Syed Ali Zafar, chairman of the Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, secured a 60-day extension from Feb 8, 2026, for submission of the committee’s report on the Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Both motions were adopted by the chair.
Under Rule 195, Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, chairman of the Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, presented the committee’s report on the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025, originally introduced in December 2025.
He also presented another report concerning a public importance about the failure to arrest suspects in a murder case highlighted by Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro. Both reports were formally laid before the House.
During legislative business, the Senate passed several bills already approved by the National Assembly.
These included amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Ordinance, 2002, and the Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) Act, 1973.
The House also passed the Pakistan Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on behalf of the interior minister, as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2026, moved on behalf of the law minister.