Virtual session of parliamentary committees: Ayaz Sadiq demands amendments in rules for video-link meetings

By Tahir Khalil *** Asim Yasin

ISLAMABAD: Former National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq did not see the justification for virtual session of the parliamentary committees unless and until the rules be amended for the provisions of holding the meetings of the parliamentary committee through video-link, saying that currently there were no provisions in the rules, law and Constitution for the meetings through video Link.

“Unless and until the rules were not amended, the Parliament could not be activated and functional through video-link,” he said while talking to The News on Monday.

Ayaz Sadiq said the digital voting screen was installed in both the houses of the Parliament and he made the efforts during his tenure as a Speaker National Assembly to make it functional in the National Assembly but could not able to make it functional as in the rules and law it was clearly mentioned that the voting could only be made through show of hands.

The former Speaker said the government should not be afraid of coronavirus and convene the regular session of the National Assembly. “During the second world war, the British Parliament continued to be held its session,” he said.

Ayaz Sadiq said as per rules and regulations, the Standing Committee could only hold their meetings in the Parliament House or in the concerned ministries of the standing committees or any other city but these could not be held through video-link.