KARACHI, Jan 31: The three-day orientation programme for members of the Sindh Assembly concluded here on Thursday night on the note that institutions can only be strengthened by application of “Rules of Business” as they are the basic laws to regulate the entire proceedings of the House.

A member of the assembly enjoys vast powers which can only be exercised if one is acquainted with “rules” for which strenuous homework is the key to success and turning him into a good parliamentarian.

This was the gist of the remarks made by chairmen of the working and concluding sessions, chaired by the Leader of Opposition, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, and Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, respectively. Chief Minister Ali Muhammad Khan Mahar, who was the chief guest, could not make it owing to his pre-occupation.

Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, in his concluding remarks, said he had seen dynamism in many new-comers of becoming good parliamentarians, but this

could not be possible overnight as without channelizing their energy to learn the rules, they could not benefit from the treasure of books in the Assembly library.

He said that if he asked questions from the member about his adjournment motion, he never meant to discourage him, but it was the minimum requirement that the matter be recent, definite and of urgent public interest.

He said unfortunately in Sindh the Public Accounts Committee had never been headed by a member from the opposition. But this was a fact that when any party was in the opposition it demanded that

the PAC be headed by a member from the opposition but when it comes to power, it nominates its member from the treasury side.

Mr Shah said it was his duty to run the House proceedings in accordance with the rules of business and the constitution as like all members, the Speaker was also under oath. However, members were free to bring amendments in the rules and update them if they consider present rules to meet the needs of the hour.

Nisar Khuhro, in his remarks, thanked the organisers of the programme and said democracy had its own dynamics and mechanism and could be strengthened by application of its rules.

In the democratic dispensation, the government and the opposition are integral parts as this division in the House was a method to keep a check on the government, he said and pointed out that if members of the opposition benches did not raise questions to check the government performance, the people would feel themselves helpless.

Mr Khuhro said it was a right of every member to raise any pinching question, but in the parliamentary usage and nobody would take it personal or make the basis for registration of case.

He said protection of rights of people is the duty of all members of the House where everyone questioning the performance of the government could not be taken to task as the member has been provided immunity for his utterances.

He said whenever members of the opposition were victimized for their criticism of the government performance, it results in casting demoralising effects on the members.

Mr Khuhro said that in the agenda of the assembly the very first hour is always reserved for “question hour” for the purpose of accountability of the ministers and if a mis-statement was given by the minister, it becomes a matter of violation of the House privilege and could take turn into a censure motion.

He said it was not obligatory upon the opposition but it was also the duty of the members of the treasury benches to keep an eye on the performance of a minister, because only then they could play their due role as a member of the assembly.

When his attention was drawn that during last regime, the House committees were not formed during its three years of the rule, Mr Khuhro said it was weakness of the members of the House. However, if any government had failed to form committees, it was called as bad government.

Earlier, Secretary Senate of Pakistan Shahid Iqbal made presentation on committee system, question hour, adjournment motions, privilege motions, call attention notices, accountability and legislature. The presentation was followed by discussion in which members sought explanation about application of rules by the chair.

Some of the members while raising questions missed the point that they were invited for orientation programme to acquaint themselves with the rules of procedure and their application and it was not a forum to discuss the conduct of the Speaker.

However, not only the Speaker but the resource person Iqbal Shahid reminded them that the Speaker was a neutral person and not a party but he has to operate within the laid down rules of business and within the orbit of Constitution.

Secretary of the Senate also made references about working of the Senate and the  National Assembly and suggested to amend the rules to include the provision of call attention notice for immediate discussion of any event of public interest.

He said that the House committees formed could not be headed by any minister. However, the minister could be made its ex- officio member. He made it clear that it was not compulsory as proposed by some members that the committees be headed by the members from the opposition.

Shahid Iqbal Khan, Secretary of the Senate, who identified and explained with relevant examples the mechanisms of accountability in the houses of parliament, pointed out that committees were the most powerful and effective instruments which performed the dual function of legislation and accountability.

Calling them mini-legislatures, he explained that a committee was invested with the same powers as the civil courts.

He talked about the functions and powers of committees, as well as their limitations, about question hour and various types of motions and how they could be used to ensure accountability of the government, institutions and individuals.

In the end, Rashida Dohad, Programme Advisor of the Asia Foundation, expressed gratitude to the members for making the orientation programme a success through their participation despite their preoccupation with the House proceedings.