Parliamentary Committees
The Parliament of Pakistan is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the Senate as the upper house and the National Assembly as the lower house.
The government of Pakistan attaches great importance to human rights issues, and several Committees have been formed at the federal and provincial levels to deal with the subject covering both the social and legal aspect of human rights issues.
Federal Parliamentry Committees
The Parliament of Pakistan is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan. It is a bicameral federal legislature that consists of the Senate as the upper house and the National Assembly as the lower house. Its purpose is to represent the electorate, make laws, and oversee the government.
In each house, exist Committees made up of 20 or fewer members. Committees consider policy issues, scrutinise government work and policies, expenditure, or even broader topics like economy and health and examine proposals for primary and secondary legislation, members can also suggest amendments. According to the National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business 2007, there should be a standing committee for each ministry of the government. The Committees play an important role of oversight and monitoring the working of the relevant Ministries of the Government. These have established traditions of sovereignty of the Parliament over the years to deal with a wide range of issues of national importance and public interest.
Below are Parliamentary Committees which look over issues related to human rights in Pakistan:
- SENATE FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
- SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW AND JUSTICE
- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON LAW AND JUSTICE
- SENATE COMMITTEE ON CHILD PROTECTION
Scope
Protection and promotion of human rights and protection against discrimination for all citizens
Chairperson
Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar
Members
M Ali Saifi, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini, M Usman Kakar, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Raja M Zafar ul Haq, Quratulain Marri, Keshoo Bai, Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, M Tahir Bizenjo, Kamran Michael, Shaheen Khalid Butt, Sarfaraz Bugti
Scope
Protection and promotion of human rights and protection against discrimination for all citizens
Chairperson
Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar
Members
M Ali Saifi, Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini, M Usman Kakar, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Raja M Zafar ul Haq, Quratulain Marri, Keshoo Bai, Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, M Tahir Bizenjo, Kamran Michael, Shaheen Khalid Butt, Sarfaraz Bugti
Scope
Protection and promotion of human rights and protection against discrimination for all citizens
Chairperson
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Members
Mohsin Dawar, Ghulam Bibi, Abdul Rehman Kanju, Shazia Marri, Sai fur Rehman, Ataullah, Agha Hassan Baloch, Shaista Pervaiz, Shunila Ruth, Shaza Fatima Khwaja, Mahreen razzaq Bhutto, Zille Huma, Ghazala Saifi, James Iqbal, Zaib Jaffar, Fauzia Behram, Rukhsana Naveed, Tashfeen Safdar
Scope
Protection and promotion of human rights and protection against discrimination for all citizens
Chairperson
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Members
Mohsin Dawar, Ghulam Bibi, Abdul Rehman Kanju, Shazia Marri, Sai fur Rehman, Ataullah, Agha Hassan Baloch, Shaista Pervaiz, Shunila Ruth, Shaza Fatima Khwaja, Mahreen razzaq Bhutto, Zille Huma, Ghazala Saifi, James Iqbal, Zaib Jaffar, Fauzia Behram, Rukhsana Naveed, Tashfeen Safdar
Scope
Promotion and protection of the legal rights of all citizens
Chairperson
Muhammad Javed Abbasi
Members
Farooq Hamid Naek, Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Ghaus Muhammad Niazi, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Siraj ul Haq, Syed Muzaffar Shah, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Mian Raza Rabbani, Sana Jamali, Musadik Masud Malik, Wahid Iqbal, Zeeshan Khanzada
Scope
Promotion and protection of the legal rights of all citizens
Chairperson
Muhammad Javed Abbasi
Members
Farooq Hamid Naek, Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Ghaus Muhammad Niazi, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Siraj ul Haq, Syed Muzaffar Shah, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Mian Raza Rabbani, Sana Jamali, Musadik Masud Malik, Wahid Iqbal, Zeeshan Khanzada
Scope
Promotion and protection of the legal rights of all citizens
Chairperson
Riaz Fatyana
Members
Junaid Akbar, Ch Mahmood Bashir Virk, Usman Ibrahim, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Malik M Ehsanullah Tiwana, M Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Rafique, M Farooq Azam Malik, Dr Nafisa Shah, Syed Hussain Tariq, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ataullah, Agha Hassan Baloch, Aliya Kamran, Lal Chand, Shunila Ruth, Kishwer Zehra, Maleeka Bokhari
Scope
Promotion and protection of the legal rights of all citizens
Chairperson
Riaz Fatyana
Members
Junaid Akbar, Ch Mahmood Bashir Virk, Usman Ibrahim, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Malik M Ehsanullah Tiwana, M Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, Rana Sanaullah, Khwaja Saad Rafique, M Farooq Azam Malik, Dr Nafisa Shah, Syed Hussain Tariq, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ataullah, Agha Hassan Baloch, Aliya Kamran, Lal Chand, Shunila Ruth, Kishwer Zehra, Maleeka Bokhari
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights and welfare of children
Chairperson
Senator Rubina Khalid
Members
M Ali Khan Saifi, Ayesha Raza Farooq, M Javed Abbasi, Samina Saeed, Rana Maqbool Ahmed
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights and welfare of children
Chairperson
Senator Rubina Khalid
Members
M Ali Khan Saifi, Ayesha Raza Farooq, M Javed Abbasi, Samina Saeed, Rana Maqbool Ahmed
Provincial Parliamentry Committees
At the provincial level, a unicameral legislature system exists. Each provincial assembly is tasked to examine and scrutinize the accounts maintained by the Provincial Government and to supervise various branches of the Government through various Committees and Sub-Committees.
Below are Provincial Committees which look over issues related to human rights in Pakistan:
- Balochistan Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Prosecution and Human Rights
- Sindh Standing Committee on Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Human RightsSindh Standing Committee on Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights
- Punjab Standing Committee on Human Rights and Minority Affairs
- Punjab Standing Committee on Law
- Punjab Standing Committee on Gender Mainstreaming (Women Development)
- KP Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Balochistan, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Ms Mastoorha
Members
Muhammad Khan, M Mubeen Khan Khilji, Danesh Kumar, Sikandar Ali, Naseer Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Balochistan, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Ms Mastoorha
Members
Muhammad Khan, M Mubeen Khan Khilji, Danesh Kumar, Sikandar Ali, Naseer Ahmed, Muhammad Nawaz
Sindh Standing Committee on Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Human RightsSindh Standing Committee on Law & Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Sindh, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Mujeeb ul Haq
Members
Ghanwer Ali Khan Isran, Heer Soho, Farukh Ahmed Shah, Lal Chand Ukrani, Sajid Ali Banbhan, M Sajid Jokhio, Tariq Masood Arain, Ali Hassan, Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Ghazalla Sial
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Sindh, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Mujeeb ul Haq
Members
Ghanwer Ali Khan Isran, Heer Soho, Farukh Ahmed Shah, Lal Chand Ukrani, Sajid Ali Banbhan, M Sajid Jokhio, Tariq Masood Arain, Ali Hassan, Muhammad Qasim Soomro, Ghazalla Sial
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights of all citizens in Punjab
Chairperson
Khalid Tahir Sindhu
Members
Shamsa Ali, Firdous Rahna, Farhat Farooq, Farah Agha, Haroon Gill, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Sadia Nadeem Malik, Haseena Begum, Sumera Komal, Munir Maseeh Khokhar
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights of all citizens in Punjab
Chairperson
Khalid Tahir Sindhu
Members
Shamsa Ali, Firdous Rahna, Farhat Farooq, Farah Agha, Haroon Gill, Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Sadia Nadeem Malik, Haseena Begum, Sumera Komal, Munir Maseeh Khokhar
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Punjab
Chairperson
Zainab Umair
Members
Javed Kausar, Zainab Umair, M Tariq Tarar, M Muneeb Cheema, M Ejaz Hussain, Shamsa Ali, Bilal Farooq Tarar, Ali Abbas Khan, Malik Ahmed Saeed Khan, Ch Iftikhar Hussain Chachhar, Syed M Murtaza
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Punjab
Chairperson
Zainab Umair
Members
Javed Kausar, Zainab Umair, M Tariq Tarar, M Muneeb Cheema, M Ejaz Hussain, Shamsa Ali, Bilal Farooq Tarar, Ali Abbas Khan, Malik Ahmed Saeed Khan, Ch Iftikhar Hussain Chachhar, Syed M Murtaza
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights and welfare of women in Punjab
Chairperson
Uzma Kardar
Members
Syeda Maimanat Mohsin, Nasrin Tariq, Umul Banin Ali, Uzma Kardar, Zainab Umair, Sajida Begum, Hameeda Mian, Rai Haider Ali Khan, Ishrat Ashraf, Munira Yamin Satti, Shazia Abid
Scope
Protection and promotion of the human rights and welfare of women in Punjab
Chairperson
Uzma Kardar
Members
Syeda Maimanat Mohsin, Nasrin Tariq, Umul Banin Ali, Uzma Kardar, Zainab Umair, Sajida Begum, Hameeda Mian, Rai Haider Ali Khan, Ishrat Ashraf, Munira Yamin Satti, Shazia Abid
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Punjab, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Faisal Zaman
Members
Sultan Muhammad Khan, Pir Fida Muhammad, Mufti Obaid ur Rehman, Ayesha Bibi, Madiha Nisar, Asia Saleh Khattak, Nazir Ahmed Abbasi, Ehtisham Javed, Maliha Ali Asghar Khan, Munawar Khan, Sardar Aurangzeb, Ahmad Kundi, Khushdil Khan
Scope
Protection and promotion of the legal rights of all citizens in Punjab, coordination and liaison between the legislature and executive
Chairperson
Faisal Zaman
Members
Sultan Muhammad Khan, Pir Fida Muhammad, Mufti Obaid ur Rehman, Ayesha Bibi, Madiha Nisar, Asia Saleh Khattak, Nazir Ahmed Abbasi, Ehtisham Javed, Maliha Ali Asghar Khan, Munawar Khan, Sardar Aurangzeb, Ahmad Kundi, Khushdil Khan