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The interim suspension of Senate membership of former Finance Minister, Senator-elect Ishaq Dar, echoed in the Senate on Tuesday, as senators raised questions on the decision of the Supreme Court. Speaking on a point of order, Senator Raza Rabbani said that a member of a legislature could be suspended only for not submitting the statement of his assets and liabilities and that too by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
He referred to media reports that Dar's Senate membership has been suspended by the Supreme Court and hoped that the apex court would issue a detailed order in this regard. Under the Elections Act, 2017, he pointed out that a parliamentarian could be suspended but by the ECP for failure to submit assets and liabilities during the stipulated timeframe.
"This is a very serious question of membership of a legislature", he said, adding that he had drawn attention of the House "while remaining well within my limits." In his response, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani advised Rabbani to wait for the issuance of detailed order of the apex court. Endorsing the views of Rabbani, Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq said that according to Dar's doctors, he is seriously ill and is not being allowed by them to travel back to Pakistan.
"Such action is not warranted. Certainly, detailed order by the apex court will be sought. Otherwise, we are surprised, as the court has never issued such an order in the past," he said. Leader of Opposition Sherry Rehman said they have been informed that neither the federal nor minister of state is available with regards to the certain related issues, while some items have been deferred for want of a minister concerned.
She said people are facing acute difficulties because of hours-long load-shedding of electricity and it is legislators' right to ask questions. She again noted that the cabinet consists of 60 ministers already and as per media reports, another person is about to take oath as minister, whereas the Constitution has fixed limit of cabinet members to 49, i.e. 11 per cent of the total number of members of the Parliament.
Senator Sherry contended that the foundation of democracy is a social contract or Constitution and those who repeatedly talk about sanctity of the vote, should see that there is also a Constitution, which fixes number of ministers, which has been exceeded but there is no minister except the health minister to respond to their concerns. She sought the chair's ruling, who directed the minister for Cabinet Division to present the government's point of view on Wednesday in the House.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018

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