Amendments in rules of procedure, conduct of business: NA body invites parliamentary leaders, chief whips to next moot

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges invited parliamentary leaders and the chief whips of all political parties in its next meeting to discuss amendments in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly.

The Committee met with Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon in the chair at the Parliament House on Thursday.

On the amendments moved by Member National Assembly (MNA) Shazia Marri, in Rules 200(1), 206, 208(1), 210, 212, 244(A)(2), 244(B) and 244(C)(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007; the Committee pended the amendments with the direction that to invite all the parliamentary leaders and the chief whips of all political parties in the next meeting of the Committee for discussion and their suggestions.

On the issue of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for providing security to the parliamentarians in the country; the committee unanimously decided to dispose of the issue with the direction to the Ministry of Interior to direct to all the provinces that two security personnel should immediately be given to those parliamentarians who need the security and then the approval should be processed later on in this regard.

On the briefing by Barrister Raheel Ahmed, on the issue of contempt of Parliament including the briefing by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs on preparation of draft bill on the contempt of Parliament; the Committee after getting presentation on the bill by Raheel, pended and referred it to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for further vetting and reporting to the Committee in its next meeting.

On the Question of Privilege raised by Ali Nawaz Shah, MNA regarding not attending the telephone calls of the MNA by Ali Mangi, Secretary Education, Sindh, Shafiq, Chief Municipal Officer, Mirpurkhas and Superintendent of Police (SP), Mirpur Khas, Sindh; the Committee pended the Question of Privilege with the direction that Secretary, Education Department, government of Sindh and Secretary, Health Department, government of Sindh should ensure his presence in the next meeting of the committee.

On the issue regarding non-provision of proper facilities by the CDA to the parliamentarians in Parliament Lodges, Islamabad; the committee pended the issue with the direction that Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and the CDA should resolve the issue of Parliament Lodges and report to the Committee in its next meeting.

On the Question of Privilege raised by Rana Tanveer Hussain, MNA regarding allegedly nomination of the MNA in an FIR registered in Lahore by the Director General, NAB, Lahore and CCPO, Lahore regarding the incident occurred on 11-8-2020 at National Accountability Bureau Office, Lahore (Referred to the Committee on 12-8-2020), the Committee pended the Question of Privilege with the direction that CCPO, Lahore should ensure his presence in the next meeting of the Committee.

Regarding any other item with permission of the chair, the Committee unanimously decided that in future, not more than 10 Questions of Privileges should be placed in the Notice for next meetings of the Committee.

The Committee also recommended for approval for the financial package of Barrister Raheel Ahmed as a Special Invitee and giving his input on drafting the bill on contempt of Parliament.

The Committee also decided that the previous letter written to federal and provincial ministries/divisions/ departments should again be sent for directing all concerned to attend the telephone calls of the parliamentarians.

The Committee also recommended that an official gown and scarf may be allowed for the Chairman/Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges.

The meeting was attended by Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Ghulam Muhamamd Lali, Nawab Sher, Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Ali Nawaz Shah, Muhammad Sajjad, Mohsin Nawaz Ranjha, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhary, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Ali Wazir, MNAs/Members and Engineer Ali Muhammad Khan Advocate, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

The meeting was also attended by Shazia Marri, Atta Ullah, Ch. Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Rana Tanveer Hussain and Faheem Khan, MNAs/ movers.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020