Reforms: ‘Rules of procedure in PA need amendment’

Research backed lawmaking sought

LAHORE: Lawmakers of the Punjab Assembly (PA) were on Thursday urged to hold a debate on reforms needed in the assembly’s rules of procedures.

Several rules of procedure had become redundant or needed to be reformed on priority, said Punjab Information Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmed Ali.

He was speaking at a discussion on legislative reforms arranged by the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI).

The information commissioner stressed the need for putting in place a mechanism for the lawmakers to benefit from cutting edge research on issues concerned in order to improve the quality of laws passed by the assembly.

Ali urged the government to take into consideration views of the leadership of all parliamentary parties before enacting a law. He also sought further empowerment of standing committees.

Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed said that the assembly was required to meet for 100 days. He demanded that the number of working days of the assembly be increased to enable it to meet the public’s expectations. He said standing committees should be given the power to review budget proposals. The government should not be allowed to approve any development project costing over a billion rupees without consultation with the House, he said.

MPA Ayesha Javed said that a draft with proposals for reform of the rules of procedures was pending the chief minister’s approval.

CPDI executive director Amer Ejaz said the rules of procedures followed by the assembly had been drafted by a British administration. He said the British House of Commons had since amended the rules to bring about great transparency and accountability in assembly proceedings. However, he said the PA was still following the same rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2016.