ISLAMABAD: A day after the Punjab government denied permission to the Awami National Party (ANP) to hold a rally at Rawalpindi`s Liaquat Bagh, the Senate, in a rare show of unity, unanimously passed a resolution recognising the right of political parties to hold peaceful gatherings and rallies across the country.

The resolution was initially moved by Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz, who had already secured the suspension of rules to table it. However, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar objected to itswording and proposed a revised version, omitting the specific mention of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The original draft read, `It is the democratic right of all political parties, including PTI, to hold peaceful political gatherings, jalsas and rallies in the territory of Pakistan as enshrined in the constitution.

However, this right ... is being denied by provincial administrations selectively across the country.

This House unanimously demands that the provincial abide by the constitutional right and allow peaceful gatherings and rallies across Pakistan without any restrictions.

However, Mr Tarar argued that provincial governments could not be dictated to and insisted on modifying the language. `Yes, we can urge provincial administrations to act within constitutional and legal bounds, but we cannot ignore legalprovisions,` he said, noting that Section 144 had long been part of the legal framework governing public gatherings.

The law minister also insisted that the wording of the resolution should be general and not specific to a party.

Shibli Faraz pushed for a vote on the original resolution. The parliamentary leader of PTI, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar, also insisted on the passage of the original resolution, saying that it was a well-thought-out draft. He said that under the current situation, the parties within the ruling coalition were free to hold rallies, but there were restrictions on PTI.

However, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman suggested that a joint resolution would enhance the dignity of the House and asked the two sides to prepare a mutually agreeable draft.

Mr Tarar then proposed a draftexcluding the mention of PTI and replacing the words `without any restriction` with `as per law and Constitution`.

Anti-human smuggling bills The Senate also passed three bills aimed at curbing human trafficking and organised beggary, particularly in Gulf countries.

The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill, and the Emigration (Amendment) Bill were introduced by Law Minister Tarar on behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The law minister informed the house that recent boat tragedies, leadingtothe deathsofseveralillegal immigrant Pakistanis, have served as a wake-up call to stop this menace. He said the Ministry ofInterior, in consultation with stakeholders, has proposed certain amendments to the laws to stop human trafficking and smuggling of girls and beggars from Pakistan abroad.

The statement of objects and reasons of the bill pointed out that the diplomatic missions of Pakistan in Gulf countries, Iraq and Malaysia have highlighted that some Pakistanis who come to these countries for Haj, Umrah, Ziarat and personal visits were involved in beggary.

They have urged Pakistani authorities to take stern action against those involved in begging and the gangs behind them.

`The agents and gangs who are involved in this practice easily dodge prosecution as beggary is not a crime in any law entrusted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The sensitivity of the issue demands the urgent need of making beggarya crime,` the statement said.

Marwat`s query Meanwhile, Friday`s National Assembly session was also hit by quorum syndrome.

The lack of quorum in the lower house was pointed out just after Question Hour, leading to the house being adjourned until Monday.

A light-hearted moment came when Sher Afzal Marwat, the erstwhile PTI lawmaker who has fallen on hard times within his party of late, posed a pointed question.

During Question Hour, instead of posing a supplementary question on an IT-related matter, he said he wanted to ask his friends, `Mujhe kyun nikala?` (Why was I expelled?). The reference to the slogan formerly used by Nawaz Sharif prompted peals of laughter among thosein attendance.