NA parliamentary groups chief whips in UK on 'study tour'

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the country’s parliamentary history, all chief whips of National Assembly parliamentary groups -- who are often at loggerheads -- have travelled together on a foreign visit to the United Kingdom.

Parliamentary sources told The News/Jang here on Tuesday that the chief whips are quite busy in London. They were invited by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, UK Branch (CPA-UK). The visit is being viewed as a “study tour” of the parliamentarians who regulate the activities of their respective groups in the lower house of parliament. It has been officially stated that “They are visiting London to look at the institution of Chief Whip in the United Kingdom Parliament.”

They met British government Chief Whip Sir Allen Campbell, MP, who briefed them on the role of whips in delivering legislation for public welfare and engaging across the parties.

The parliamentary stalwarts also had a meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner Dr. Faisal Chaudhary.

They visited UK parliament at the Palace of Westminster in London. The sources told this scribe that the visiting legislators briefed their interlocutors about the working of parliament in Pakistan. Some of them highlighted its working and achievements.

They will return home by the end of the week, and before that they would witness the proceedings of the British parliament, the sources said.

In the meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori, who proceeded to London early this month, has extended his stay in the British capital. He will be returning later this week, the sources added.