ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: Opposition members belonging to the PPP and MMA have requisitioned a meeting of the Senate Committee on Human Rights to discuss the situation of fishermen of Sindh particularly those of Badin.
PPP senators Farhatullah Babar, Sardar Latif Khosa and Dr Muhammad Said of the MMA submitted the requisition notice on Wednesday. The notice demanded that a meeting be held under section 163(4) of the Rules of Business of the Functional Committee on Human Rights to consider "issues relating to the violation of human rights of fisher folk of Badin and other districts of in Sindh".
The opposition members have also called for the attendance of Sindh Rangers Director-general, Badin District Nazim, elected representatives from Badin and the provincial fisheries secretary along with the record of the fishing contracts given to the Rangers during the past.
According to Rule 165 of the Rules of Procedure "A committee shall have power to require the attendance of persons or the production of papers or record, or examine such persons on oath or solemn affirmation, if such course is considered necessary for the discharge of its duties".
Under Senate rules the chairman of the committee is bound to call the meeting within two weeks from the date of the receipt of the requisition. Senator S.M. Zafar is Chairman of the Human Rights Committee.
In case the chairman does not call the meeting the rules make it mandatory upon the secretary of the committee to call the meeting within three weeks even without the chairman.
At least three members are required for the quorum. According to sub section 5 of Rule 179 "If the chairman of the committee is not present at any sitting, the committee shall choose one of its members to act as chairman for that sitting".
The opposition senators have also asked for relevant record to examine how a federal agency was given fishing contracts, which is purely a provincial subject under the Constitution.
If the government does not give the record for reasons of being "prejudicial to the defence, security or external relations", the matter will be referred to Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro to determine whether or not documents shall be produced before the committee. Under the rules the committee's meeting, therefore, should be held later this month.