Senate Standing Committees on Cabinet Secretariat, Social Welfare, States and Frontier Regions, Industries and Productions and Health and Local Government elected their heads at separate meetings held at the Parliament House Saturday.
Rule 163 (1) of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 1988 contemplated the election of Chairmen and Chairpersons of respective Committees while under Rule 154(1) of the said Rules requires that the Chairman of the Committee shall be elected from amongst its members. Secretary, Senate of Pakistan Raja Muhammad Amin conducted the proceedings of the elections.
Senators Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi, Muhammad Naseer, Mengal, Engr. Rashid Ahmad, Ms Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Abdul Razak Thahim and Mir Mohabat Khan Marri were elected unopposed as Chairmen of Senate Standing Committees on Cabinet Secretariat, Social Welfare, States and Frontier Regions, Industries and Productions, and Health and Local Government respectively.
The name of Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi was proposed for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat by Senator Abdul Raziq and seconded by Senator Dr Muhammad Ali Brohi. The name of Senator Naseer Ahmad Mengal was proposed for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Social Welfare by Senator Shuja-ul-Mulk and seconded by Senator Muhammad Wali Badini.
Whereas, the name of Senator Engr. Rashid Ahmad was proposed for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on States & Frontier Regions was proposed by Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi and seconded by Senator Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli. The name of Senator Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli was proposed for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Industries and Productions by Senator Muhammad Wali Badini and seconded by Senator Dilawar Abbas.
The name of the Senator Abdul Razak Thahim was proposed for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Health by Senator Dr Muhammad Ali Brohi and seconded by Senator Rehana Yahya Baloch. The name of the Senator Mir Mohabat Khan Marri for Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on Local Government was proposed by Senator Muhammad Wali Badini and seconded by Senator Abdul Raziq.
Three Opposition Senators Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa, Dr Safdar Ali and Rehmatullah Kakar staged a walk out in protest from the meeting scheduled to elect Chairman of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat against what they described as `Illegal, hasty and against the rules procedure with mala-fide intentions'. They said, the election was being held on a day between tow holidays and many Senators are away in connection with their domestic business. The meetings should have been held after the election of the new Prime Minister, which is only two days away.
Senators Mohammad Enver Baig and Ms Saadia Abbasi also staged a walk out from the Senate Standing Committee meeting on Social Welfare. Both the Senators termed the election proceedings as illegal and in violation of the existing rules of business.
They opined that sufficient prior notice could have been given as these slots were originally promised to be offered to the opposition. Therefore, the election constituted a violation of understanding reached earlier about the slots of Chairmen and Chairpersons of the various Standing Committees.
The Secretary Senate on the occasion clarified that the election proceedings were conducted under rule 163 of the Rules of Business and he has the verbal instructions of the Deputy Chairman Senate in this regard, who is currently abroad. He said there is nothing illegal about these elections and the Secretariat expected to receive written orders in this connection any time Saturday.
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