Senate session: Opposition protests delay in CCI meeting

PPP senator accuses government of violating Constitution as the 90-day mark passes.

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition lawmakers, led by the PPP protested in the upper house of Parliament over the delay in convening a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI).

“If the Centre doesn’t convene the CCI, Sindh will send a requisition,” PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said. The provinces, particularly Sindh, should not be forced to take any step under Article 154 of the Constitution which also empowers the federating units to requisite a CCI meeting, he added.

“The CCI shall meet once every 90 days,” Rabbani said quoting Article 154 (3) of the Constitution. “Not holding a CCI meeting is a violation of the 1973 Constitution,” he added.



Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that preparations were being made to convene a CCI meeting and its final date will be announced soon. “There were some administrative and other issues due to which the session could not be held within 90 days,” he admitted.

A summary seeking local government polls after evolving consensus among the provinces will also discussed in the CCI meeting, Pirzada said.

The opposition also protested the privatisation of the national airline, saying the CCI had not been taken on board with the decision.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2014.