News Detail
Event Title: Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizinjo, Chairman Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Presiding over a Meeting of the Committee at Parliament House Islamabad
Event Date: 2022-09-23
The meeting of Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges was held on Friday at Parliament House. Chaired by Senator Muhammad Tahir Bizenjo, the meeting was attended by Senator Zarqa Suharwardi Taimur, Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, Senator Dr. Asif Kirrmani, Senator Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Ali Zafar and senior officers of the Ministries and Departments concerned such as the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Islamabad Police.
Issues taken up entailed further consideration of the proposed amendment of Rule 9 and insertion of Fourth Schedule in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012 that deals with disputes related to Senate Elections with regards to Chairman and Deputy Chairman and Consideration of Privilege Motion moved by Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee against FIA and Islamabad Police for raiding his House and causing harassment to his wife and daughters.
While further consideration of the proposed amendment of Rule 9 and insertion of Fourth Schedule in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012 the Committee was informed that this amendment was intended to remove Rule 9 completely. It was stressed that disputes in the Senate must be resolved within the House and the appellate system must be improved. The Ministry of Law opined that in case of the amendment Article 69 cover will be removed from officers and officials of the Senate. The Committee was of the view that a system must be formulated that that would allow outgoing Senators from three major parties to nominate sitting members to form a Committee to resolve disputes of this kind.
Consideration of Privilege Motion moved by Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee against FIA and Islamabad Police for raiding his House and causing harassment to his wife and daughters, Chairman Committee Senator Tahir Bizenjo while condemning the act in the strictest terms stressed the need to end the cycle of political victimization. It was asserted that no malicious activity must be carried out against any representative of the people. This, agreed all members, was an grievous breach of privilege. However, the matter being taken up by the Senate Standing Committee on Interior Committee was a breach of privilege of this Committee, the sole mandate of which is to address related issues. Members asserted that the matter is to be taken to Chairman Senate who will decide the jurisdiction under Rule 264 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012.