In Pakistan, the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Divisions debated various issues. One of the issues debated was the ban on entry of second and third wives of the members of the elite Islamabad Club.
During the meeting, Senator Saleem Mandviwala questioned the conditions imposed by the club on its members. He said that the club does not recognise other wives of members apart from the first wives of the members, and therefore second and third wives of the members are not allowed to enter the club.
He wondered why such a restriction was imposed at the club when such rules are not applied in any other club in the country. The senator said that it was an unfair rule at the club. The committee recognised the “significance” of the issue, and the chairman noted that this is “a very important problem” as Islam allows four marriages.
Therefore, the committee reportedly summoned the management of the Islamabad Club to the next meeting to resolve this matter. However, the special secretary of the Cabinet Division said that the division has no role in the membership of the club, and said that it was an internal issue of the club.
While discussing civil awards given by the Pakistan government, the name of Chahat Fateh Ali Khan came up. Committee member Aamir Chishti asked the Secretary whether the viral singer’s song ‘Bado Badi’ would be considered for an award – given its number of views on YouTube.
When Aamir Chishti asked committee chair Rana Mahmoodul Hasan whether he has listened to the song, he replied, “I have. It gave me a headache.”
The committee also discussed the Toshakhana gift issue, and the committee was told that the Toshakhana policy was amended last year according to which no one can keep any gift worth more than $300. Any gift above the value is be displayed in the Parliament, the President or the Prime Minister’s houses. Moreover, government employees are now not allowed to participate in the auction of gifts.
