Rabbani asks Sanjrani to call Senate session

ISLAMABAD: Ex-chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani has written a letter to Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani asking him to summon a session of the Upper House of Parliament for providing a collective leadership to the country in the given situation.

“Parliamentary oversight of steps being taken in the fight against the virus, like Ehsaas, NDMA, financial packages of the federal government,” he said in a letter to the chairman Senate.

He said it was unfortunate that during the pandemic ‘we have failed to develop a national consensus to put together a national collective effort.’

“Institutions provided in the Constitution i.e. Entry No. 13, Intra Provincial matters and coordination, Federal Legislative List, Part II, controlled by the Council of Common Interest, for developing a commonality of approach between the Federal and Provincial Government have been made redundant,” he stated.

“Historically during wars and grave epidemics, he stated courts and parliaments have continued to function. Even in the present crises, parliaments of various countries continue to function partially and or have gone into limited recess after passing legislation pertaining to financial relief measures,” he stated.

On the contrary in Pakistan, Raza Rabbani said the federal government had announced financial packages for various sectors of industry and altered the tax and duty structures without taking Parliament into confidence.

“It is of concern that critical ministries handling the Coronavirus crises, such as, Health, Ehsaas Relief, National Security (controlling air links), Information, Overseas Pakistanis and the Tiger Force, are all under special assistants to the prime minister i.e. persons who are not members of Parliament,” he said.

Therefore, he said, in the given situation it is essential for transparency and parliamentary oversight that the Senate of Pakistan be summoned into session as it represents the federating units.