Senate Amends Rules To Give Representation To Senators In PAC, Members Appreciate Dar For His Vital Role

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th july, 2016) : The Senate Thursday unanimously amended rules paying way to nominate six senators three each from treasury and opposition benches to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in parliamentary history of the country for the first time. The motion to amend the rules and nominate six senators to PAC was moved by leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq in the House.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House paving way to Senators to become members of PAC. Raja Zafarul Haq congratulated the House for resolving the long standing demands of the senators amicably. He said that today was a historic day in the parliamentary history of the country and it would not only bring both the houses closer to each other but also help strengthen the democratic system.

He said that now six Senators, three each from opposition and treasury benches including one each from Islamabad and FATA would be a part of the PAC. Earlier, while giving policy statement, Minister for Finance and Revenue Mohammad Ishaq Dar apprised the Senate that inclusion of senators in the PAC was a difficult task which was successfully completed. He said that many efforts were made to include senators in the committee as no one was ready to entertain this idea. The minister said he personally contacted Speaker National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition and all parliamentary leaders on the said subject and convinced them. He said no system could afford two PAC as practically it could create complication.

Even in UK, Canada and others counties, system of separate PAC did not exist, he added.

Dar said it was necessary to have a single PAC of the Parliament having Senate representation in larger national interest. He said that he was given two weeks in this regard and remained successful after the Prime Minister return to home. He said rules of both the Houses (Senate-National Assembly) would be changed to include six senators in the PAC.

He said every province would have representation besides one each members from Federal Capital and FATA. Moreover, out of six senators, three each would be from the government and opposition benches, he added. He said that draft rules have also been prepared.

New rules would also be introduced in the National Assembly session commencing on August 1, he said. Senators from both sides of the isle appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar for developing broader consensus on the matter.

They said that the Senate was now ready to play a meaningful role to make the federation more strong. They were confident that the participation of the Senators in the Public Accounts Committee would make it more effective.

They said the credit goes to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Leader of the House, Leader of the Opposition, Chairman Senate and all members of the House for their excellent job in this regard.

They termed it a historic day and the biggest decision of Parliamentary history of Pakistan. Those who spoke included Senators Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Mushahid Hussain Sayyed, Usman Khan Kakar, Mir Kabir, Azam Khan Swati, Sherry Rehman, Saeed Ghani, Hafiz Hamdullah, Sardar Musa Khel, Mian Ateeq Shaikh and Rehman Malik.