Parliamentary body on joint resolution finalises mechanism: Report

The high-level oversight committee of the Parliament constituted to implement the unanimous resolution passed by the in-camera joint session of Senate and National Assembly Monday finalized its working mechanism by approving 14 rules of procedures. The 17-member parliamentary committee which comprises of the representatives of more than 15 political parties met and deliberated upon its working mechanism and nominated Leader of the House in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani as its Chairman. The committee approved 14 rules of procedures. Later giving details of the meeting to the media representatives outside Parliament House after the meeting, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman said that the committee finalized its working mechanism in the meeting and would itself decide about its timetable and agenda. She termed the performance of the committee as welcoming declaring it as demonstration of keen interest of parliamentarians in the issues regarding the national security.

She said that meeting was held in a congenial atmosphere in which the unanimous resolution passed by the joint session was discussed in detail. She said that next meeting of the committee would be held on Nov 20. She further said that the committee will meet at least for once in a month with one-third required quorum to review the development on the implementation on the resolution. She said that the committee has been empowered to ask the government to implement its recommendations at the earliest and the period for which should not be more than a month. “It has been given the powers to call ministers and government officials to find out progress on its recommendations”, she added. She further said that it can also summon all stakeholders whenever required. The Minister informed that the committee will keep its proceedings confidential and its decisions would be made public only through a joint declaration after full consensus of its members.