ISLAMABAD, July 24: The Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) has offered to extend technical assistance to the Senate after a proper need assessment from the secretariat.

This decision was conveyed by the visiting IPU secretary- general, Anders B. Johnsson, to the Senate secretary, Shahid Iqbal, on Thursday.

Mr Johnsson said the organizational structure of the IPU had increased manifold during the last decade and presently more than 100 organizations of the union were playing their parliamentary role compared to only 12 organizations in 1989.

He informed the Senate secretary that the IPU had decided to arrange a high-level meeting every year and the next meeting was scheduled to be held in Santiago.

Shahid Iqbal briefed Anders B. Johnsson about the working and composition of the Senate. He said the senate committees had played an important role in giving indepth consideration to the bills presented in the Senate as the members of the Upper House were more competent and experienced having a full grasp over their subject.

He said the Senate members always held the banner of democratic norms high and represented the will of the people of all the federating units of Pakistan. He said the composition of the Senate had undergone a change and its membership had been increased.

Meanwhile, the IPU secretary-general called on the acting Prosecutor General Accountability (APGA), Malik Mohammad Afzal, at the NAB headquarters on Thursday.

The APGA briefed the visiting guest about the functioning of the bureau, says a press release.

The procedural formalities and the course of law adopted while handling corruption complaints from receipt till final disposal by the accountability courts was highlighted during the course of discussion.

The IPU secretary-general evinced keen interest in the anti- corruption operation in Pakistan, appreciating the quantum of workload (corruption cases) taken up for final disposal as per National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

The APGA dwelt at length on the existing legal procedures.

Mr Johnsson was also informed about the concept of plea- bargain and voluntary return incorporated in NAO, 1999 which usually is used by the accused through an established court procedure whereby the accused admitted his guilt and vowed to return the looted money to the state exchequer.

Disqualification to hold public office for a period of 10 years and dismissal from government service with no pensionary benefit (in case of government employees) is the natural outcome of the system, the secretary-general was told.

Moreover a bar on availing financial facility from DFIs and banks in certain cases also is included in the court verdict as per law.

The IPU secretary-general lauded the independent appointment procedure of the accountability judges controlled by the superior judiciary that ensured justice and neutrality of legal proceedings against the accused.—APP