Parliamentary committee on Covid-19 decides not to convene NA, Senate sessions

The parliamentary committee on Covid-19 on Wednesday decided to not convene Senate or National Assembly sessions amid the second wave of the pandemic.

Briefing the meeting, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) officials said that the second wave of Covid-19 had intensified. The officials reiterated that people should follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to limit the spread of the pandemic.

The meeting of the committee, presided by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, was attended by Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Prime Minister's Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and other lawmakers. No member of the opposition participated in the meeting.

Omar maintained that the opposition was playing with the lives of the people as the virus was spreading rapidly due to their rallies.

He added that the national leadership has to change its behaviour and convince the people to implement SOPs as the second wave of the pandemic was more dangerous and it may result in a large number of people requiring hospitalisation. 

Federal Minister Aminul Haq also suggested that the National Assembly should not be convened in such a situation.

After the meeting, Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz said in a media briefing that the aim of the parliamentary committee meeting was to create consensus in the political leadership on the current pandemic situation in the country.

“The opposition, which claims to be the champion of democracy, has proved by boycotting that it does not accept the parliament,” he said, adding that the opposition wants a situation where unemployment and the condition of hospitals in the country deteriorate further.

Minister Faraz added that the government will contact the opposition for a consultation to convene a session of the Parliament.

“By not following the decision of the Islamabad High Court, the opposition is showing a glimpse of illegality,” he said. “PDM’s agenda is personal and not national. They want to take NRO as PDM is a national criminal [alliance] which is endangering the people. Legal action should be taken against them.”