LAHORE, Dec 9: The National Assembly speaker, Chaudhry Ameer Husain, hoped that the opposition would start playing its due role in the process of legislation after an agreement between the government and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal.

He was talking to newsmen after attending the 23rd Bolan Academy Award ceremony at Alhamra Art Centre, here on Monday night.

“The agreement will be good for the nation as well as the parliamentary system,” he said.

Answering a question about convening of next session of the National Assembly, the speaker said it would be held soon. “I think the MMA and government have arrived at some consensus for holding session of the assembly,” he observed.

To another query about ARD President Javed Hashmi, he said, “the speaker has authority to order the government to present a member before the house, if he considers presence of the member essential for its working.

“The speaker uses this authority under rule 90 in a situation like a budget session, elections of leader of the house, etc,” he added.

It was not the prerogative of any member, arrested under the criminal charges, that he should be brought to attend every session of the house,” Chaudhry Ameer said, and asked what contribution Mr Hashmi had made to the legislation process during the past six months. He said every one was equal in the eyes of law and equally responsible for his or her deeds.

Earlier the speaker said at the ceremony maximum encouragement should be given to the artistes by recognizing their services and acknowledging their performance. —APP