Samina Mumtaz Zehri

Pakistani politician

Senator
Samina Mumtaz Zehri
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 2021
ConstituencyBalochistan
Personal details
NationalityPakistani
Political party Balochistan Awami Party (2018-present)

Samina Mumtaz Zehri (Urdu: 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]

References

  1. ^ "Senate of Pakistan".
  2. ^ "ای ووٹنگ بل منظور ہونے سے ٹھپہ مافیا ہا ر گیا:سینیٹر ثمینہ زہری". 20 November 2021.
  3. ^ "نعروں نہیں عوام کی حقیقی خدمت کا سلسلہ شروع ہوگیا'سینیٹر ثمینہ ممتاز".
  4. ^ "Samina Zehri elected BAP VP". tribune.com.pk. The Express Tribune. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Details Standing Committees". senate.gov.pk. Senate of Pakistan. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  6. ^ "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. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Board of Directors". hubpower.com. HUBCO. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ Butt, Naveed (29 August 2024). "Women, children: Senate panel concerned at rising crimes". brecorder.com. Business Recorder. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Senate HR panel irked by absence of Sindh IG". TheNews.com.pk. The News International. 11 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ Guramani, Nadir (11 September 2024). "Senate committee moves to criminalise necrophilia through amendment bill". dawn.com. Dawn. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ Yasin, Asim (12 September 2024). "Senate body okays bill criminalising necrophilia". TheNews.com.pk. The News International. Retrieved 12 September 2024.