ISLAMABAD: Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Wednesday proposed holding Senate proceedings in the National Assembly (NA) Hall in the prevailing conditions to follow the principle of adequate distance in seating.
The committee, which met via video-link to discuss the matter, observed that the Constitution does not provide for holding a virtual session of the parliament but the galleries in the Senate Hall can be used by parliamentarians.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq and attended among others by Leader of the House Senator Shibli Faraz, Senators Sherry Rehman, Mian Raza Rabbani, Dilawar Khan, Nighat Mirza, Waleed Iqbal, Pervaiz Rasheed, Asif Kirmani.
The chairperson of the committee said that the pandemic has engulfed the entire world and parliamentarians across the world have adopted different ways and means to continue working for the public.
She said that Pakistan is also experiencing similar challenges and like the executive and judiciary, the parliament and its members also need to work out mechanisms to convene a session as early as possible to take steps to resolve the problems of the people.
She observed that parliamentarians are the representatives of people and have to stand with them in this hour of need.
Senator Rabbani briefed the committee about the constitutional requirements of voting, attendance, quorum and other aspects which cannot be observed adequately in a virtual session.
He said that the Rules of Senate also do not have any provision for holding a virtual session and for holding such a sitting a large number of amendments would be required in the constitution as well as the rules. He also said that the fact that all other government departments are working but the parliament cannot convene is beyond comprehension.
He proposed that the visitors’ galleries can also be used in the hall for members to ensure that proper distance is maintained between individuals.
The minister for parliamentary affairs told the committee that the meeting of the parliamentary committee held on Tuesday deliberated upon the matter and NA session with limited representation may be called in days to come.
Senator Waleed Iqbal also agreed that virtual session is not a possibility and proposed that Senate session be convened in the NA Hall and the session of the lower house should be convened in the convention centre to have proper sitting arrangement. He said that everyone coming for meetings or sessions should get themselves tested first.
Senators Nighat Mirza, Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Dilawar Khan, Pervaiz Rasheed, Asif Kirmani also agreed that that a session should be called and the parliament should continue its work while taking all precautionary measures required.
The leader of the house said that the views of the members should be considered and mechanism should be adopted to make it as safe as possible. Senator Sherry Rehman also called for holding the session and keeping the parliament fully functional while also working towards making it more digitised.
The chairperson of the committee rounded off the discussion with two proposals; either the session of Senate be held in the NA Hall or if it is held in Senate Hall then the visitors’ galleries may also be used by the members for seating.
