The standing committees were announced more than three and a half months earlier, but are yet to be formed. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Newly-appointed parliamentary secretary Mahmood Jan Baber has tendered his resignation citing ‘lack of authority’, an official told The Express Tribune.
“The apparent reason behind his resignation was that the chief minister (CM) had earlier promised Baber perks and privileges, but could not make good on his word,” said the official, adding the resignation was submitted to the CM’s personal secretary, Ashfaq Khan.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Babar said he was elected to serve the people by addressing their problems and highlighting issues facing his constituency in the provincial assembly. The post of parliamentary secretary, however, had no powers, which is why he finally decided to resign in the public’s interest, he added.
Legal barrier
The appointment of 32 parliamentary secretaries – of which 31 now remain – has posed another problem for the provincial government: very few lawmakers occupying the treasury benches can now be appointed as chairmen of standing committees in the K-P Assembly.
The standing committees were announced more than three and a half months earlier, but are yet to be formed.
Officials at the Civil Secretariat said under the current rules and regulations, the chairman of a standing committee in the provincial assembly cannot hold any other office. This has put the ruling party in a fix, as most PTI MPAs have been appointed as special assistants, advisers and parliamentary secretaries.
“The government is left with no option but to introduce amendments in the rules and regulations of standing committees, which it is now preparing itself for,” said an official, adding only after the required changes will MPAs be able to head the committees while simultaneously holding another office.
Another official maintained this was the primary reason for PTI delaying the appointments of standing committees’ chairmen. He added if the PTI-led government does go ahead with the move, it will have to appoint lawmakers occupying the opposition benches for most of the chairmen slots. “This cannot be acceptable to any ruling party.”
According to the official, if the appointments are made under the present circumstances, 22 of the total 34 standing committees will be headed by opposition lawmakers.
Since the appointments of standing committee chairmen are made in accordance with the strength of the treasury and opposition benches, only 12 MPAs from PTI can head the committees, said the official.
He added the government is left with the option of introducing amendments in the rules and regulations through which an office bearer can also become the chairman of a standing committee.
“The situation is worrying the government,” he said, adding coalition partners in the government are being consulted on the issue and there is “every probability” amendments would be made for standing committees by passing a bill in the coming assembly session.
Insiders said Law Minister Israrullah Gandapur has also pointed the issue out to the provincial government, suggesting the appointments are shrouded in legal complications.
“Either parliamentary secretaries would have to be done away with, or most of the slots for chairmen of standing committees would go to the opposition,” confirmed Gandapur.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ