Incensed by govt's attitude, chairman leaves Senate in a huff

We want to play our due role, but it seems govt isn't ready to accept the Senate’s constitutional role, says...

ISLAMABAD: In an unprecedented move, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani on Friday adjourned the proceedings of the upper house of parliament indefinitely, threatening to resign in protest against the stubborn attitude of the government and persistent absence of ministers.

Rabbani lost his cool when he found that relevant ministries had not furnished answers to questions submitted by lawmakers.

And there was only one minister – the state minister for petroleum – whom he had summoned on Thursday to answer various questions raised by opposition members on a recent decision of the federal government to allow new gas connections.



A question was related to perks and privileges of retired civilian and military officers. Opposition members had been asking this question and the government was abstaining from submitting a reply.

“Reply not received” was the short answer members usually get to such queries.

Rabbani had initially adjourned the house for 35 minutes during the question-hour session, asking the treasury members to ensure the presence of ministers before the session resumed.

The situation remained unchanged when the session resumed.

The Senate chairman, who was incensed by this time, read out Rule 23 (2) of Senate rules and adjourned the house without fixing a fixed date to reassemble.



Though, the Senate session was scheduled to continue till April 21st.

Under relevant rules, when the president summons a session, it is prorogued with presidential orders. However, rules also permit the chairman Senate to adjourn a sitting. Normally, an ongoing session is not adjourned for more than two days.

However, this is the first time that any chairman of Senate used Rule 23 (2) of the Senate rules.

Rule 23 (1) states: “Every sitting of Senate shall commence at such hour as the Chairman may direct”. Rule 23 (2) reads; “Subject to other provisions of the rules, the chairman may- (a) adjourn a sitting of the Senate sine die or to a particular day or to some other time on the same day; and (b) if he thinks fit, call sitting of the Senate at a time or date different from that to which it was earlier adjourned”.

Absence of members especially on treasury benches has been an issue in both Houses of parliament.



Having the speaker from their own party in the National Assembly, the PML-N gets away with such trends in the lower house.

In the Senate, opposition parties have more combined numerical strength than treasury benches.

PPP is the largest party in the Senate and has important offices of the chairman Senate and the leader of the opposition.

Rabbani, known to go by the book, has brought many changes in the working of the Senate. Among them is strict discipline and adherence to rules. He had warned the government to take Senate’s proceedings seriously.

On Friday, he not only adjourned the house indefinitely, but also stopped working as the chairman Senate.



Opposition lawmakers and a ruling party Senator Nisar Muhamamd Khan and independent members staged a walkout and accused the government of intentionally belittling the Senate.

“The Senate is trying to play its constitutional role to strengthen the federation. But, it has become impossible for me to run the house,” Rabbani said.

He mentioned the role the Senate played in resolving contentious issues arising between the federal government and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government. The K-P government is again asking the Senate to start a debate on Fata reforms.

“We took up the water issue of Sindh and are trying to find a solution to the gas dispute between Sindh and the Centre. We want to play our due role, but it seems the government is not ready to accept the Senate’s constitutional role,” he said.



Amid protest by opposition members who supported the Senate chairman, Rabbani said that the House would now decide if they wanted him to continue to serve as the chairman.

“It seems the government is not ready for accountability. They strip us and hold all elected members accountable. This cartel of civilian and military bureaucracy is not ready for any accountability,” he said.

“If they want me to step down, I will not hesitate,” he said before he stormed out of the House.

Subsequently, Rabbani left his chamber and directed his staff not to send any file to his office. He then called his private car and left for his residence without protocol.

Some senators from opposition and treasury also threatened to resign if their chairman quit his post.

A ruling party Senator, Nisar Muhammad Khan, sent in his resignation to the chairman Senate while MQM’s Col (retd) Tahir Mashhhadi told reporters that he would also resign along with the chairman.

Later, some minister and members of the opposition tried to pacify Rabbani. The government was unsuccessful in assuaging Rabbani till the filing of this report.

Senate chairman was due to lead a parliamentary delegation to Iran on Saturday (today).

However, he conveyed to the government his inability to proceed on the official trip, insisting he was no more the chairman of the Upper House of Parliament.

As developments unfold, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was busy meeting with Rabbani.