Coronavirus: NA speaker contacts PPP, PML-N, JUI-F to discuss parliamentary group

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to muster political support to counter impending challenges in wake of coronavirus pandemic, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser had telephonic contact with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, JUI-F Parliamentary leader Maulana Asad Mehmood and PML-N senior leaders Rana Tanvir Hussain and Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Friday to discuss the formation of Parliamentary Committee to oversee the government efforts to deal with the corona pandemic.

The Speaker discussed the formation of Parliamentary Committee to oversee the government’s efforts to deal with corona pandemic and sought names from Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PML-N‘s Rana Tanvir Hussain and Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Maulana Asad Mehmood of JUI-F for the Committee.

According to sources, the composition of the Parliamentary Committee comprises of members from all the parliamentary parties of both the side of Isle from both the Houses of the Parliament—Senate and National Assembly.

The composition of the Parliamentary Committee to oversee government efforts to deal with coronavirus pandemic comprised of two third members from National Assembly and one third from the Senate.

The decision for the Parliamentary Committee was taken during the meeting of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar on Thursday in which they agreed that a Parliamentary Committee on coronavirus be constituted comprising of members of the government and the opposition for Senate and National Assembly to oversee the measures toprevent the spread of the virus and form recommendations to make them more effective. While talking to the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar said that together we have to fight that pandemic and send a message to the nation that the entire nation and the political leadership of the country was united at that critical juncture.

Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari agreed with the Speaker saying that the pandemic and its aftermath needed to be fought together as a nation. He extended his and his party’s support for that national cause.

While talking to the PML-N leaders Rana Tanvir Hussain and Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Speaker Asad Qaisar said the coronavirus apart from affecting the health of the people would adversely affect the economy of the country. He said the country could face multitude of challenges in the coming days. They agreed for forging unity to tackle the challenges and assured to give names of their party representatives after consultation with the party leadership. In a meeting between Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser and Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday the two leaders agreed to set up a Parliamentary Committee to avoid the coronavirus and monitor governmental actions.

In addition to delivering its recommendations to the government, the Parliamentary Committee will also review the steps taken by the government to deal with the coronavirus. The committee will be notified as soon the National Assembly Secretariat receives names from political parties.