Khursheed Shah asks if British premier can attend sessions of House of Commons and answer questions, why not Nawaz
ISLAMABAD: The government benches on Tuesday rejected an amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly (NA) which could have bound the prime minister to respond to queries of parliamentarians during the Question-Hour in the House.
The government rejected the amendment with the majority vote which invited strong criticism from Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah who said the treasury benches did not want to give due role to the prime minister in the NA.
He said the PM was busy in China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) and he also prepares designs of highways but he did not have any time for parliament. “I want to ask if the British premier is so free that he can attend the session of House of Commons and respond to questions of members, why our prime minister has no time for parliament,” he said adding if the prime minister feels he has the vision due to frequent foreign visits, then he should attend proceedings of parliament.
The treasury benches defeated the opposition’s move by 73 to 60 votes. All the opposition parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), Awami Muslim League (AML) and government’s ally Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party supported the PPP sponsored amendment.
The amendment in the Rules of Procedure of Conduct of Business in the NA was moved by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Dr Nafisa Shah, Shahida Rehmani and other PPP members. Giving details of the amendment, Dr Nafisa Shah said it was aimed at envisaging a new insertion after Rule 79 which says that there shall be a Prime Minister’s Question Time on the first Wednesday of every session. In the second hour of the Question-Hour, the prime minister shall respond to questions submitted by members. However, the PM shall have precedence over other members when taking up the questions and may ask not more than three supplementary questions.
The opposition leader said the government should not lose the opportunities of strengthening the parliamentary system in the country by opposing the amendment. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was well aware of national and international issues and he could respond to questions of members properly. Shah said he was disappointed by the government’s opposition to the amendment which he said reflected dictatorial mindset. Syed Naveed Qmar of PPP said the NA has been losing its effectiveness due to absence of the prime minister and non-serious attitude of the cabinet members. “I want to tell you that do not take us to a situation where we stop attending proceedings of the house,” he said adding the prime minister should speak on important issues in the house.
Naveed Qamar also advised the prime minister to come out of the bureaucratic shield. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said it was the collective responsibility of the federal cabinet to run the proceedings of two houses of parliament.
He said the prime minister was also the chief executive of country and he has to deal with other vital internal and external issues. “The prime minister attends proceedings of the house when it is required and he also gives policy statements on different issues,” the minister said.
During discussion on the amendment, the opposition leader said the government was releasing Rs 50 million funds for each member of the treasury benches whereas Rs20 million are given to opposition members. “ We were considering to return this charity money back to the government,” he said.
The opposition members, however, did not agree with Khursheed Shah saying that they did not get even Rs 20 million.