MPs panel on Charter of Parliament meets in camera

ISLAMABAD: Unlike Thursday’s open meeting, the Special Committee consisting of government and opposition leaders formed by the National Assembly Speaker for the Charter of Parliament on Friday held its second meeting in camera that continued for three hours.

Syed Khursheed Shah chaired the meeting and decided to hold future meetings in camera.

Before the meeting, Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq revised the composition and named Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman as its member.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, while speaking in the National Assembly, announced quitting the committee.

It is likely that The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) may give the name of Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain in place of Asif.

According to sources, in the meeting, the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs from the Parliament House and the alleged attack on them was also discussed.

Sources said discussion was also held on presenting a constitutional amendments package before the special parliamentary committee.

The PPP demanded implementation of 18th Amendment and revision of 19th Constitutional Amendment.

Source said the JUIF also expressed its reservations on the 19th Constitutional Amendment.

It is to be noted that through the 19th Amendment, the powers of the Parliamentary Committee to Appoint Judges were restricted.

The sources said panel proposed full implementation of the Charter of Democracy and it was said that a mechanism should be made to implement the CoD clauses which have not been implemented yet. Later, panel head Khursheed Shah, when asked, refused to share what happened in the meeting with the media. While when a journalist asked PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan whether matter regarding ‘important’ legislation was also discussed in the meeting, he restricted himself saying: “All matters have been considered.”