PM's NA Question Hour: Ministers' absence delays amendment to Rules of Procedure & Conduct of Business

National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has discussed the amendment regarding the process of Prime Minister's question hour in the house and invited both the federal and state ministers for parliamentary affairs to the next meeting for taking final decision. Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon presided over the committee meeting held at the Parliament House on Monday to discuss the question of privileges of various MNAs.
Discussing the amendment to the rule relating to the Prime Minister's Question Hour on the first Wednesday of the each complete session on the matters relating to overall substantive policy or performance of the government, Secretary Parliamentary Affairs Aurangzeb Haque gave suggestion that the lawmakers should submit questions in writing to the Prime Minister for their proper answers. He said in case the Prime Minister is not available then it should be replaced by regular question hour followed by the same day next week by the Prime Minister's question hour.
The members of the committee said there should be an option of asking verbal questions during the PM's question hour. They also expressed resentment over absence of federal and state ministers for parliamentary affairs at the meeting.
The committee decided to invite the both ministers in the next meeting to take final decision after discussion. It unanimously decided to defer the amendment moved by MNA/Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan in Rule 69 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, due to the absence of both the ministers for parliamentary affairs.
The question of privilege of MNA Faheem Khan was related to the alleged misbehaviour and derogatory remarks of SHO Maqsood Raza and Investigation Officer, Police Station Defence, Karachi, Imdad Khawaja with the member (referred on 30-01-2019) and which was kept pending and report was sought on it.
The question of privilege of MNA Abid Raza was related to implicating him in a false and politically motivated case in Kakrali Police Station, Gujrat, by registering a fabricated first information report (FIR) against him, and alleged attempt by Mian Tahir Bashir, SP (Headquarters) and DSP Mian Muhammad Arshad along with police force to forcibly occupy his property (referred on 30-01-2019).
The committee had sought its report for Monday but due to absence of the mover of the question of privilege, the committee recommended that the agenda item may be deferred till the next meeting.