Senate’s defence panel sets milestone, launches website

To prepare Defence Policy Strategy document annually.

ISLAMABAD:

“Parliament’s supremacy cannot be ensured by mere words but through the forum’s performance, leadership and initiatives,” said Chairman Senate’s Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production Mushahid Hussain Sayyed on Monday.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of the committee, convened in connection with the launching of a new website and presentation of its report at Parliament House.

The committee is the first parliamentary panel to have its own website. It also managed to produce a comprehensive report on its workings within six weeks of its formation, which speaks volumes about members’ dedication.

“The defence committee will establish new parliamentary traditions, seeking input from all stakeholders including the defence and security institutions, think-tanks and the media to formulate its recommendations to further strengthen the country’s defence,” said Mushahid.

“Some of the basic premises of the National Defence Strategy will be redefined, in light of the new challenges and emerging ground realities,” he added.

Apprising  chairman Senate Nayyer Hussain Bokhari of the 2012 Work Plan and other initiatives of the committee, he went on to add that a ‘Defence Policy Strategy’ document would be prepared annually to give specific recommendations to Senate on defence.

Two-phase working plan

The six-month working plan would be carried out in two phases.

In the first phase, the committee is to summon the officials of the armed forces, in order to brief them on the relevant security issues.

Later, chairman Senate formally launched the committee’s website.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2012.