On 2 February 2026 the 14th meeting of the Law and Justice Committee took place in Committee Room No. 7 at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Ch. Mahmood Bashir Virk, MNA. The meeting began with a recitation from the Holy Quran and a Fateha was offered for the sister of Ms. Sofia Saeed Shah, the mover of one of the bills. The minutes of the previous sitting, held on 20 August 2025, were confirmed and one agenda item was deferred.
The Committee examined the Alternative Dispute Resolution (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and members cautioned that arbitration should not be made compulsory for disputing parties. There was strong concern that granting the government authority to amend the attached Schedule could amount to an abdication of parliamentary legislative power. The Ministry maintained that the provision would represent a lawful delegation of power rather than an abdication. The Committee directed the Ministry to prepare a detailed note addressing members’ concerns and to include the provincial status of the proposed legislation; consideration of the Bill was deferred to the next meeting.
Debate on the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (Section 54-A), moved by Ms. Sofia Saeed Shah, centred on whether the proposed change was necessary given the existing independent Order XXI that regulates execution of decrees. The Ministry advised that the instant amendment is not supported in its present form. Members nevertheless acknowledged the mover’s concerns and the Committee recommended that the Ministry produce a modified draft after consulting the mover; the Bill was deferred for further revision.
The Qanun-e-Shahadat (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Ms. Shazia Marri, was considered with reference to a comparative chart submitted by the mover outlining existing provisions, proposed changes and committee-informed modifications. The Ministry expressed general agreement with the revised draft but requested additional time for refinement. In light of that request, the Committee deferred further consideration.
On the Public Interest Disclosures (Amendment) Bill, 2025, moved by Dr. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, the Committee was informed that a government Bill addressing similar matters is already pending before Parliament and includes the mover’s aim to establish an independent commission. The mover was advised that she would retain the right to move amendments on the floor when the government Bill is taken up. The Committee also asked the Ministry to provide a comparative chart between the government measure and the mover’s Bill and to give prior notice when the matter is placed on the Order of the Day so the mover may prepare amendments. Given the overlapping legislation, the Committee recommended that the mover’s Bill need not proceed and that it may not be passed.
Two Constitution Amendment Bills, one on Article 24A moved by Ms. Naeema Kishwar and another on Articles 51 and 106 moved by Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghumman, were not taken up due to the non-availability of the movers and were accordingly deferred to the next meeting.
Members and participants included Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Ms. Saira Tara, Ms. Mah Jabeen Khan Abbasi, Syed Ali Qasim Gillani, Syed Ibrar Ali Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Syed Hafeezuddin, Mr. Hassaan Sabir (joining via Zoom), Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Sofia Saeed Shah, Ms. Shazia Marri, Dr. Sharmila Sahiba Faruqui Hashaam, the Minister of State for Law and Justice, officers from the Ministry of Law and Justice, and relevant committee staff. The Committee set directions for revised drafts and further consultations ahead of its next sitting.
Tahir Farooq
Draftsman/Secretary Committee
