The President has summoned the National Assembly on Thursday, April 10, at 10 am. Numerically and officially speaking, the session is being termed as the fourth.
In previous three sessions, new Members took oath, Speaker and Deputy Speaker were elected, followed by ascertainment of the Members who commanded the confidence of the majority of the House; and vote of confidence of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Anyway, this session has been called in the midst of speculation of disagreement between PPP and PML (N) on the judges' issue. However, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is on record in saying that the issue would be decided in the National Assembly.
In addition, some members in the two parties have denied reports of disagreement. In fact, Nawaz Sharif has stated several times that there would be no going back from re-instating the superior and high court judges.
Speculation gained ground after reports that PPP co-chairman has different views on the judges issue, and this motivated Aitzaz Ahsan to kick alive the campaign for the installation of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and 50 other judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.
However, the session may see fireworks in the 18 adjournment motions and a few privilege motions posted by the Members. PML-Q Member Faisal Saleh Hayat has sent in a privilege notice against what he considers disorderly conduct and raising of slogans in the Visitors' Galleries.
PML (N) Member Birjees Tahir has filed a privilege motion against the republication of blasphemous cartoons in Denmark and Netherlands, the placing of an obnoxious film on the web-site. Other privilege motions concern energy crisis, shortage of flour (atta), wheat prices, and aspects of financial management of the country.
However, the Assembly is expected to undertake serious business of appointing standing committees and conduct election of chairpersons for those committees. The new 'Conduct of Business and Rules of Procedure' adopted in the last National Assembly make it binding that the standing committees must be in place within 30 days after first meeting.
That target date is only seven days away. It is clear that PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi would lead the Opposition. Still, Speaker Fehmida Mirza must officially name the Leader of the Opposition during this session.
Another serious business awaiting the government is the management of the nation's finances for the budget session calling for considerable input from National Assembly Members and from standing committees. According to a past decision, standing committees are required to oversee the budget allocation of each Ministry/Division and scrutinise whether delivery targets had been reached.
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