Portal service: Dozens of petitions seek Senate action

Some 42 petitions are admissible while 43 others relate to individual cases

ISLAMABAD: A torrent of recommendations flooded a website launched last week by the Senate for its public petition system, raising issues for the consideration of members of the upper house.

By Monday, the number of petitions had reached 129, according to Senate secretary Amjad Parvez.

According to details, out of these 129 petitions the secretariat deemed 42 admissible while 43 other pleas relate to individual cases. In addition, nine of them are based on mere suggestions while 35 are under review.



The admissible petitions, the secretary said, will go to Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and then some would be referred to relevant standing committees while the others would be brought before the house for discussion.

The government, he said, will be asked to answer those petitions in which questions have been raised over policy matters and about their pros and cons.

About 10 staffers of Senate sift through the petitions round the clock on a system indigenously developed by the upper house of parliament.

Last Tuesday, the Senate had launched a one-of-its-kind public petition system portal. “It is about time to showcase the brighter side … the e-petition will connect the people with parliament,” said Raza Rabbani at the launching ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2015.