The 98th Session of the Senate began in Islamabad this afternoon (Monday) with Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari in the chair.

The chair announced the panel of the Presiding Officers for the current session. Its members include Malik Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana‚ Ahmad Hassan and Nuzhat Sadiq.

At the outset of the proceedings‚ the House offered Fateha for those killed in the earthquake in Balochistan and martyred in different incidents of violence in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Chairman‚ Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs‚ Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan‚ Haji Muhammad Adeel presented before the House Report No. 1 of the Committee on the visit of delegations from China and Poland.

Members belonging to Opposition benches staged a token walkout from the House over the issue of law and order situation in the country.

Members belonging to PPP‚ PML-Q and ANP staged a token walkout from the House over the issue of privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills.

Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi informed the House that government plans to privatize only 26 percent shares of Pakistan Steel Mills.

Responding to a point of order‚ the Minister said that after the privatization process no employee of PSM will be sacked because major share of the management will remain with the government.

Maula Bakhsh Chandio introduced before the House "The Emigration (Amendment) Bill‚ 2013". The bill provides to amend the Emigration Ordinance‚ 1979.

The Chair referred the bill to the concerned committee of the House.

Replying to a motion moved by Farhatullah Babar regarding the situation arising out of nonpayment of compensation to decree holders of land acquired for AFV Ranges in Nowshera for the last several decades‚ Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad told the House that the matter is subjuidice in the Supreme Court and after the decision the compensation will be made.

The Chair directed the concerned Minister to submit report on the matter on Monday.

The House started discussion on a motion moved by Farhatullah Babar regarding the procedure for the appointment of Judges in the superior courts.

Initiation the debate‚ Farhatullah Babar made an impassioned plea to revisit the procedure for the appointment of judges in superior courts.