ISLAMABAD: In what was seen as a landmark development in the country’s parliamentary history and the first step towards meaningful empowerment of the upper house of parliament, the government announced its decision on Thursday to give representation to the Senate in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The announcement, which surprised senators who have witnessed resistance to the idea from the lower house in the past, was made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a policy statement during the Senate proceedings.

Under the decision, six senators — three each from opposition and treasury benches — will be included in the PAC to transform it into a joint parliamentary committee. The committee will soon have one senator from each province, Islamabad Capital Territory and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.


Move hailed as landmark development amid calls for further empowerment of the house


Minutes after the announcement, the Senate adopted an amendment to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Senate 2012 to create room for senators becoming part of the PAC. The motion seeking the amendment to the rules was moved by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq.

Mr Dar said the National Assembly would adopt a corresponding amendment to its rules when it would meet on Aug 1. The process will be completed in the next session of the Senate, which is to be prorogued sine die on Friday (today).

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said it would not have been possible without the minister and talked about his backdoor meetings with him in this regard.

Mr Dar described it as a difficult task and said, “Across the board, nobody was ready to listen to and entertain the idea.”

He said he had held backchannel meetings with the parliamentary leaders to convince them that the system could not afford to have two separate PACs of the two houses of parliament.

It is rare to see the opposition praising the government, but the entire house was all praise for Mr Dar to acknowledge his pivotal role in the major step in parliamentary history.

The Senate chairman suggested that an amendment be passed in the National Assembly for inclusion of senators in the Kashmir committee.

He also proposed revival of the parliamentary committee on national security and constitution of a joint parliamentary committee on law.

The National Assembly secretariat had earlier ‘regretted’ the proposal for inclusion of senators in the PAC, prompting many members of the upper house to insist that the Senate should have its own public accounts committee. On July 18, the business advisory committee of the Senate had approved a draft amendment to the constitution of a separate PAC, but it was decided that the government should be given two weeks to resolve the issue.

Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said it was for the first time in parliamentary history that a house of parliament had agreed to share its powers with the other. “Today we have strengthened parliament and parliamentary democracy.”

Usman Kakar expressed the hope that steps would be taken to give more powers to the Senate, including financial autonomy and the right to move a no-trust motion (against the prime minister).

Azam Swati termed the move a major milestone in parliamentary history. Sherry Rehman said she looked forward to the Senate having a role in the passing of budget. Saeed Ghani said the move would enhance the importance of the PAC.

Rehman Malik said the prime minister should not be chosen only from among members of the National Assembly and the scope of the relevant law should be enlarged to include the Senate in the process.

Raza Rabbani said it was a day of victory of constitutionalism and federalism.

CPEC agreement

Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal handed over a copy of the memorandum of understanding signed with China on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to the Senate chairman. But he said it was a bilateral document and its wider circulation should be avoided.

Mr Rabbani told the senators that they could examine the document in his chamber.

Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister for National Health Services and Regulation, responding to a calling attention notice, said there was no shortage of TB drugs in the country as they were available at 5,000 public health facilities across the country free of cost.

Law Minister Zahid Hamid, who also holds additional charge of the ministry of climate change, told the house that the draft of the Pakistan Climate Change Bill had been prepared and sent to the provincial chief ministers for their input.

The proposed law envisaged creation of a climate change authority to implement adaptation and mitigation projects, he said. A climate change fund is also being created.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016

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