ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Friday said that it was the duty of police to protect public representatives and directed all provincial police chiefs to brief the committee on the issue in the next meeting.
MNA Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon presided over the meeting of the committee, which was held at the Parliament House.
The committee said that security was provided to non-parliamentarians and public representatives were left at the mercy of God. The committee directed IGs of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan along with home departments’ secretaries to brief it on security of parliamentarians.
The committee directed the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to prepare a draft pertaining to the breach of privilege of the members, the committee and parliament. Members of the committee vowed to take action against those who disrespect the public representatives.
Also, the Committee pended amendments moved by MNA Naeema Kishwar Khan, Dr Nafis Shah and Shazia Marri to rules 48, 122, 244, 200, 206, 208, 212, 244A, 244B and 244C of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007.
The committee disposed of an amendment moved by Naeema Kishwar Khan to Rule 61 with the recommendation that the same had already been recommended in the amendment moved by Sher Akbar Khan.
The committee disposed of the question of privilege moved by Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Dr Arif Alvi, Sher Akbar Khan, Ramesh Lal and Shagufta Jumani.
Referring to the provision of medical facilities to the dependents/parents of members of the National Assembly, the committee decided to invite chairmen of standing committees of the National Assembly on Parliamentary Affairs and Finance and Revenue along with the secretaries of the said ministries.
The meeting was attended by Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar, Ch. Khadim Hussain, Rana Muhammad Ishaq Khan, Rana Umer Nazir Khan, Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Abdul Majid Khan Khanankhail, Sheikh Muhamamd Akram, Ms. Kiran Haider, Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur, Ramesh Lal, Ms. Shagufta Jumani, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, S.A.Iqbal Quadri, Muhammad Ali Rashid, Ms. Asiya Nasir.
Besides, Naeema Kishwar Khan, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Ghalib Khan Advocate, Muhammad Azhar Khan Jadoon, Sheikh Salahuddin, Dr Arif Alvi, Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi, Sher Akbar Khan and Jamaluldin were also present.
Meanwhile, President Mamnoon Hussain has summoned the session of the National Assembly on April 10.
The president has summoned the National Assembly session in exercise of powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 54 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Published in Daily Times, March 31st 2018.