Islamabad
The first Senate session of the year, convened by the government on a 24-hour notice, is currently underway. A regular session of the Senate was last held from Aug 29 to Sept 3.
Former Senate chairman Raza Rabbani addressing the house raised questions on the amendments proposed by the government to the country’s accountability law.
He said the government was not following the Constitution and its actions have rendered the parliament ineffective.
Earlier, while the opposition appeared to be wondering as to what was the need for convening the sessions of parliament in such haste, the government said the decision had been taken to take the legislature into confidence over recent important developments.
When contacted on Tuesday, Rabbani said he failed to understand the reasons behind convening the sessions within 24 hours. He pointed out that in foggy weather, many members from other cities would find it difficult to reach Islamabad in time.
He regretted that the Senate session had only been convened a day after the opposition had requisitioned it. He said the government continues to ignore the parliament and pointed out that the Senate would be meeting after a gap of 124 days, apart from a requisitioned session convened in between.
PPP MNA Shazia Marri said the “out of mind” government wanted to run parliament in a haphazard way, just as it was running the country. According to Marri, the members were informed at 5pm on Tuesday through media about the parliament sessions to be held the very next day.
Leader of the house in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz, however, termed the opposition’s clamour as surprising, saying the parliament’s sessions had been convened on their request. He said after the opposition submitted a requisition with the Senate secretariat on Monday, he had contacted leader of the opposition in the Senate Raja Zafarul Haq, Sherry Rehman and other parliamentary leaders and told them that the government was convening the Senate as a session on their requisition would need 14 days.
He said important developments had taken place since the last session was held and the government wanted to take the house into confidence, adding Prime Minister Imran Khan would attend the coming Senate session.– INP
