Rules of procedure: More powers sought for Punjab Assembly
185 members sign notice of amendment.
185 members sign notice of amendment. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
As many as 185 members of the provincial Assembly have signed a motion to amend the Rules of Procedure 1997 to empower standing committees, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Ayesha Javed submitted the notice of motion to amend the rules to give committees more powers. She submitted the notice motion carries signatures of 185 MPAs who have agreed to support it.
Speaker’s PRO Abdul Qahar said that the motion would be put on the agenda.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Javed said, “Our democracy rests on the assumption that elected representatives act in the best interests of the people and are answerable to them. Lack of any real powers for the committees negates this assumption.”
She said the standing committees were responsible for debate on parliamentary affairs.
“They should be able to investigate and deliberate on issues and make suitable recommendations that are taken seriously,” she said. “This is especially pertinent to budgetary discussions.”
She said currently committees acted on issues which were highlighted in the PA on a point of order, a privilege motion, a call attention notice or in the question hour.
She said she wanted suo motu powers for the committees. She said the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa assembly had recently introduced similar amendments.
The proposed amendments are as follows: Rule 161
Suo Moto Powers
161 (1) A committee may examine suo moto the expenditures, administration, delegated legislation, the public petitions and policies of the department/ministry concerned and its attached corporations and pubic bodies and may call for views of the department/ministry. After examining the views of the department/ministry the committee shall make a report to the provincial assembly of Punjab which may take such recommendations thereon as it may deem fit.
161 (2) When a department/ministry is of the opinion that in the interest of security of state or the maintenance of public order or generally in the public interest or on account of any other sufficient reason, any particular record summoned from any office or authority under the government or set up or established by the government should not be furnished to any committee or a person in the service of state should not be summoned or compelled to give evidence, the department may claim privilege for that record or exemption for the public servant, as the case may be provided that in such case the committee may refer to the Speaker whole decision whether to accept or deny the department’s claim of the privilege or exemption as the case may be shall be final;.
161 (3) A committee shall have powers vested in civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Act V of 1908) for enforcing the attendance of any person and compelling the production of documents.
161 (4) Public Petitions may be presented on any matter connected with the business pending before the House or a Committee or any matter of general public interest which is primarily the concern of the government provided that it is not one which falls within the cognizance of a court of law or tribunal and it shall not directly relate to a matter pending before any court or other authority performing judicial or quasi judicial functions.
Public hearings
161 (5) A chairman may invite or summon to appear before the committee any member or any other person having a special interest in relation to any matter under its consideration and may hear expert evidence and hold public hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2014.
As many as 185 members of the provincial Assembly have signed a motion to amend the Rules of Procedure 1997 to empower standing committees, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Ayesha Javed submitted the notice of motion to amend the rules to give committees more powers. She submitted the notice motion carries signatures of 185 MPAs who have agreed to support it.
Speaker’s PRO Abdul Qahar said that the motion would be put on the agenda.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Javed said, “Our democracy rests on the assumption that elected representatives act in the best interests of the people and are answerable to them. Lack of any real powers for the committees negates this assumption.”
She said the standing committees were responsible for debate on parliamentary affairs.
“They should be able to investigate and deliberate on issues and make suitable recommendations that are taken seriously,” she said. “This is especially pertinent to budgetary discussions.”
She said currently committees acted on issues which were highlighted in the PA on a point of order, a privilege motion, a call attention notice or in the question hour.
She said she wanted suo motu powers for the committees. She said the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa assembly had recently introduced similar amendments.
The proposed amendments are as follows: Rule 161
Suo Moto Powers
161 (1) A committee may examine suo moto the expenditures, administration, delegated legislation, the public petitions and policies of the department/ministry concerned and its attached corporations and pubic bodies and may call for views of the department/ministry. After examining the views of the department/ministry the committee shall make a report to the provincial assembly of Punjab which may take such recommendations thereon as it may deem fit.
161 (2) When a department/ministry is of the opinion that in the interest of security of state or the maintenance of public order or generally in the public interest or on account of any other sufficient reason, any particular record summoned from any office or authority under the government or set up or established by the government should not be furnished to any committee or a person in the service of state should not be summoned or compelled to give evidence, the department may claim privilege for that record or exemption for the public servant, as the case may be provided that in such case the committee may refer to the Speaker whole decision whether to accept or deny the department’s claim of the privilege or exemption as the case may be shall be final;.
161 (3) A committee shall have powers vested in civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 (Act V of 1908) for enforcing the attendance of any person and compelling the production of documents.
161 (4) Public Petitions may be presented on any matter connected with the business pending before the House or a Committee or any matter of general public interest which is primarily the concern of the government provided that it is not one which falls within the cognizance of a court of law or tribunal and it shall not directly relate to a matter pending before any court or other authority performing judicial or quasi judicial functions.
Public hearings
161 (5) A chairman may invite or summon to appear before the committee any member or any other person having a special interest in relation to any matter under its consideration and may hear expert evidence and hold public hearing.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2014.