Samina Mumtaz Zehri Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Senator
Samina Mumtaz Zehri
Office1:Member of the Senate of Pakistan
Term Start1:March 2021
Constituency1:Balochistan
Nationality:Pakistani
Party: Balochistan Awami Party (2018-present)

Samina Mumtaz Zehri (ur|ثمینہ ممتاز زہری) is a Pakistani politician who is a member of the Senate of Pakistan, representing Balochistan, Pakistan since March 2021. In 2022, she was elected Vice President of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP).[1] [2] [3] [4]

Zehri also holds the position for the of Chairperson of the Senate's Functional Committee on Human Rights, where she plays a key role in advancing legislative reforms and advocating for human rights protections in Pakistan.[5] [6]

Drawing on her legal expertise, Zehri has been a practicing lawyer since her enrolment in the Sindh High Court on 17 January 2012, and in both the Sindh Bar Council and Karachi Bar Association since 5 May 2007.[7] Her legislative focus includes corporate, financial, and banking reforms, legal aid systems, human rights, and civil and criminal law.[8]

A strong advocate for social reform, Zehri has called for more inclusive and supportive workplaces for women, emphasising the need for improved recruitment, training, and recognition of women’s contributions. She has consistently stressed the importance of amplifying women’s voices in professional spaces.[9]

Zehri also introduced the “Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” aimed at explicitly criminalising necrophilia by amending Section 377 (unnatural offences), which is punishable by life imprisonment. Initially, she proposed expanding the definition to include offences against children, but on the advice of the Law and Interior Ministries, the bill focuses specifically on crimes involving "dead bodies."[10] [11]

Additionally, Zehri serves on the Board of Directors of the Hub Power Company.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senate of Pakistan.
  2. Web site: ای ووٹنگ بل منظور ہونے سے ٹھپہ مافیا ہا ر گیا:سینیٹر ثمینہ زہری. 20 November 2021.
  3. Web site: نعروں نہیں عوام کی حقیقی خدمت کا سلسلہ شروع ہوگیا'سینیٹر ثمینہ ممتاز.
  4. News: Samina Zehri elected BAP VP . 12 September 2024 . tribune.com.pk . . 28 July 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: Details Standing Committees . senate.gov.pk . Senate of Pakistan . 12 September 2024 . en.
  6. Web site: Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Chairperson Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament Lodges. . app.com.pk . Associated Press of Pakistan . 12 September 2024 . 29 July 2024.
  7. Web site: Board of Directors . hubpower.com . HUBCO . 12 September 2024 . en.
  8. News: Butt . Naveed . Women, children: Senate panel concerned at rising crimes . 12 September 2024 . brecorder.com . . 29 August 2024 . en.
  9. News: Senate HR panel irked by absence of Sindh IG . 12 September 2024 . TheNews.com.pk . . 11 September 2024 . en.
  10. News: Guramani . Nadir . Senate committee moves to criminalise necrophilia through amendment bill . 12 September 2024 . dawn.com . . 11 September 2024 . en.
  11. News: Yasin . Asim . Senate body okays bill criminalising necrophilia . 12 September 2024 . TheNews.com.pk . . 12 September 2024 . en.