Awaiting nominations: Opposition to blame for headless NA panels

PPP, PTI and MQM fail to send names to NA secretariat.

ISLAMABAD:

The government is largely to blame for the delay in the functioning of the National Standing Committees. However, after the election of 29 panels equal responsibility falls upon the opposition for not proposing names of its candidates for the chairmanship of the committees.

“The opposition had made a commitment (written statement) to the National Assembly speaker that they would forward the names of seven standing committees but did not fulfill the promise,” said NA secretariat’s spokesperson.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had assured the speaker they will propose the names of their candidates.

According to the agreement between the government and the opposition, PTI and MQM would be heading two committees each whereas the PPP will chair three.

The opposition groups had committed to make the proposals after the Ashura holidays, however the Speaker has yet to receive names of nominees of the chairpersons.

After the election of the committees in August, it was during November that meetings of several committees were convened and chairpersons of 11 committees elected.

The NA secretariat has asked the remaining 11 committees to convene their meetings and elect their chairpersons in the coming weeks.

Responding to a question, he said that the secretariat would not waste time to convene the meetings of the committees once the opposition parties submit their names.

According to details standing committees of Housing & Works, National Food Security and Research, Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan, Law Justice and Human Rights, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Interior and Narcotics Control, Water and Power, Information Broadcasting & National Heritage, Planning and Development, Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony are being headed by the PML-N.

Muhammad Jamaluddin from the JUI-F has been elected as chairperson for the standing committee on States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON).

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2013.