Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Should Senate chairman or National Assembly speaker chair the joint sitting of Parliament, being held today?

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani wants to chair the proceedings, since it was his ruling, which compelled the government summon the joint session.

A couple of months ago, the Senate chairman had given the ruling on joint session after the Upper House of Parliament rejected a government-sponsored bill to set up Pakistan International Airlines Corporation.
However, the government delayed the summoning of joint session citing various reasons. Meanwhile, the Senate chairman wrote a couple of letters to NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, saying he (the Senate chairman) must chair the joint session of the Parliament.

Sources told Daily Times, the NA speaker rejected the Senate chairman’s plea quoting Article 72 (2) of the Constitution, which reads: “At a joint sitting, the speaker of the National Assembly or, in his absence, such person as may be determined by the rules made under clause (1), shall preside.”
Besides, the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) Bill, 2016, the government would move a bill to amend the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, a bill to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973, and a bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860.

Several bills and amendments have already been submitted by the opposition members, to be taken up during the joint session being held today (Monday).