Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has appointed a 9-member committee on virtual session of the National Assembly during the prevalence of corona virus pandemic in the country.
The committee will be headed by Syed Fakhar Imam, Minister for National food security and Research while the Treasury will be represented by Dr. fehmida Mirza, Minister for Inter-provincial coordination, Dr. Zaheer uddin Babar, Advisor to PM on Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, MNA Syed Amin Ul Haq, and Malik Aamir Dogar, Cheif Whip (PTI). Whereas the opposition will be represented by MNAs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ms. Shahida Akthar Ali and Syed Naveed Qamar.
As per ToRs of the Committee, it had been mandated to suggest amendments in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, if any for holding virtual session of the National Assembly during prevalence of the corona virus pandemic.
The Committee had also been asked to make recommendation for detailed working to hold session of the National Assembly during the period of pandemic. The Committee had also been asked to make any other recommendations it may deem necessary.
The Committee had been asked to submit its report at the earliest. The Speaker National Assembly vide notification has the authority to make any changes in the composition of the committee as and when required.
The Advisor to Speaker on legal and constitutional matters and Addtional Secretary (Legislation) will act as Secretaries to the Committee.
Meanwhile, However, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser had taken an important step and called the national assembly to restore the committees’ meetings through video links, he added.
After Asad Qaiser , the Senate chairman also calling a meeting regarding IT and communication tomorrow which will be held through video link and in coming days Parliament would hopefully to start calling its joint sessions. The Senate committees will also start working through video links and social distancing, he added.—INP
