ISLAMABAD: The Senate has opened itself to the general public by creating a drop box on its official website where people can file petitions on public issues which can be taken up by the upper house of the parliament or can be referred to committees concerned.

“The Public Petition System” was formally inaugurated by Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani at a ceremony here on Tuesday.

The event was attended by Leader of House Raja Zafarul Haq, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Deputy Chairman of Senate Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and parliamentary leaders of all parties.

The Senate rules did provide for public petitions by the masses on any matter connected with the business pending before the house or a committee or any matter of general public interest, but no mechanism was in place for filing and processing the petitions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Rabbani said that the purpose of launching the petition system was to establish a link between the parliament and the masses. He said parliament could not establish its supremacy without the ownership of the people.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2015

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