ON the face of it, the opposition has given cogent reasons for rejecting a government plan to hold the next session of the two houses of parliament through video link. The suggestion to hold virtual proceedings was made in view of the prevailing lockdown restrictions on the movement of people and large gatherings in order to halt the spread of Covid-19. However, both the major opposition parties, the PPP and PML-N, argue that the execution of such a proposal would require changes to the Constitution. Additionally, they point out that if the government can frequently hold large cabinet meetings and the courts continue to function without any problem, why shouldn’t parliament meet to discuss government policies and legislation, especially those that are related to efforts to control the virus? They also note that virtual sessions are not feasible because of erratic internet connections. Last but not the least, parliament has to meet at least once to make necessary amendments to the rules to create room for virtual sessions. Some from the ruling alliance are also in agreement with the opposition that feels it is possible to hold the pre-budget and budget sessions in the house by implementing the necessary safety measures including social-distancing precautions.

Had the situation in the country been a little less desperate, it would indeed have been hard to dispute the opposition’s arguments against convening virtual sessions of parliament. But desperate times demand desperate measures, and those who oppose videoconferencing must rethink their position. In fact, the convening of sessions in parliament will further confuse the people about the severity of the situation as it will negate the opposition’s own stance that favours the enforcement of a stricter lockdown to stop the spread of infection. Virtual sessions are perhaps the best option until such time that it is safe to resume normal activities. If there is still insistence on holding a session where lawmakers are present physically in the house, the parties should agree to sending a third of their members to participate, with the rest joining through video link — as an example, Britain successfully experimented with this mode of parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the government needs to realise that the opposition’s stand on its proposal stems from the growing trust deficit between the two sides. It is the responsibility of the ruling party to narrow the gap with the opposition for a better working relationship.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2020