Senate approves revised rules of business after 24 years, making the House more powerful

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday approved Revised Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Senate after 24 years by making the Upper House of the Parliament more powerful.

Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi moved the revised rules.

Under the revised Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business in the Senate there would be Prime Minister's Question Hour in every session that exceeds seven days in which the Prime Minister would reply to questions of the members.

The Ministers and Ministers of State or Advisers whose questions have been set down for answering on a day allotted to their Ministries shall subject to provisions of clause (6) of Article 91 of the Constitution remain present in the House during question hour and will not leave the Senate till the business concerning their Ministries is disposed of.

Provided further that, in case of ministry which is in the charge of the Prime Minister or for which no minister has been appointed, the concerned minister of state, if any, shall be its ex-officio member and where there is no minister of state also, the minister or minister of state to whom the subject or matter referred to the Committee is assigned shall act as its ex-officio member and in the absence of such assignment, the minister for parliamentary affairs shall act as ex-officio member of the Committee.

Under the revised rules, the annul report of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), when received, shall be laid on the table by the Minister in terms of clause (4) of Article 153 of the Constitution.

The annual report of the National Economic Council, when received, would be laid on the table by the Minister in terms of clause (4) of Article 153 of the Constitution, The Recommendations of the National Finance Commission, together with an explanatory memorandum as to the action taken thereon, when received, shall be laid on the table by a minister in terms of clause (5) of Article 160 of the Constitution.

The annual report of the Auditor General relating to the accounts of the federation, when received from the President, shall be laid on the table by the minister under Article 171 of the Constitution.

The report of Council of Islamic Ideology of each annual interim report and the final report under clause (4) of article 130 of the Constitution shall be forwarded by government, within six month of its report, to the Secretary, who shall cause it to be laid on the table.

After these reports the Chairman Senate shall fix a day for its discussion and the ministers concerned may make a brief statement explaining the salient features of the report.

Under the revised rules, A member shall not be member of more than four committees. The Secretary of the ministry or division concerned or an officer not lower in status of a joint secretary cannot attend meeting of these committees.

If a committee does not present its report within the period prescribed, the bill, subject or matter referred to it may be considered by the Senate, without waiting for the report, upon a motion by any member or by the minister concerned.

Composition of Standing Committees: Each standing committee shall consist of not less than 12 members and not more than 15 members to be elected by the Senate. A member shall not be member of more than four committees.

The Secretary of the ministry or division concerned or an officer not lower in status of a joint secretary cannot attend meeting of the committee's meetings.

Seat becoming vacant: If a member is absent, without leave of the Senate, for 40 consecutive days of its sittings the Chairman shall bring the fact to the notice of the Senate and thereupon any member may move that the seat of the member who has been so absent be declared vacant under clause (2) of Article 64 of the Constitution. If the seat of the member is declared vacant, the Secretary shall communicate the fact to the Chief Election Commissioner and the member concerned.

Speaking on the occasion, Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said the revised rules which had been framed after 24 years would raise dignity of the Parliament. He thanked all the members for taking keen interest in its framing.

Prof. Khursheed Ahmed said that the rules of business had a great role in strengthening of parliamentary traditions. He said the issue was first raised by him in 1981 and after that the 1988 rules were framed. Senators Zahid Khan, Abbas Afridi, Haji Adeel, Ilyas Bailour, Ishaq Dar, Ismail Buledi also spoke on the occasion and congratulated the Senators for framing the revised rules of business. (APP)