02 March 2005	Wednesday	20 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, March 1: The report of the special committee on the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, to be finalized by Thursday, may raise questions about the status of Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman , as the proposed changes in the rules lay down a new procedure for election to the post.

The National Assembly's standing committee on rules of procedure and privileges met on Tuesday to consider the report of the special committee. Sources said Rule 38 in the report laid down that "the speaker shall declare a member as leader of the opposition having the greatest numerical strength".

Leader of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy Amin Fahim has backing of 80 opposition MNAs while Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman enjoys the support of about 60 members.

Sources said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had agreed to support the report after it sought legal opinion and was satisfied that the rules pertaining to the opposition leader would be applicable from the next session.

The MMA relies on the interpretation of Sub Section 1 of Rule 38, which says: "The speaker shall declare a member of the opposition as the leader of the opposition within seven days of the as certainment of the leader of the house." However, those in the government and the ARD dispute the MMA's interpretation of the rule. When contacted, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan said: "Once the proposed rules are adopted, then the speaker would have the power to interpret those."

The minister briefed the members of the standing committee about the major changes made by the special committee in the rules to bring them in line with the amendments to the constitution. He said a note of dissent by Syed Naveed Qamar of the People's Party Parliamentarians, relating to disciplining of the parliamentarians, had been incorporated in the report.

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