Upper house set to condone lawmakers’ absence. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The MQM finally returned to the upper house of parliament after spending almost three months on the sidelines.
Rabbani, in his ruling, said the absence of MQM legislators could be condoned provided they applied for a leave. “It is advised the members, if they desire, may move leave applications excusing for their absence from the House during the Senate sittings,” he said.
On August 12, the MQM lawmakers had resigned en masse from the Senate, National Assembly and Sindh Assembly alleging victimisation at the hands of paramilitary Rangers during the ongoing operation in Karachi – the MQM’s bastion.
Their resignations remained pending in all the legislative houses until October 5 when Rabbani gave his initial runling and declined to accept the resignations of MQM senators.
He said that apparently these resignations were submitted in protest to pursue a political agenda and the legislators did not intend to vacate their seats.
On the MQM’s return to the upper house, the Senate chairman also ruled that the legislative business initiated by the MQM leaders that lapsed in their absence could be revived through fresh notices.
The ruling is likely to be taken as a precedent by the speakers of National Assembly and Sindh legislature.
The MQM has eight members in the Senate, 24 in the NA and 51 in the Sindh Assembly. They might also attend the NA session scheduled for Friday.
Under the rules, lawmakers cannot remain absent from a legislative house for more than 40 days.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2015.
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