National Assembly rejects Opposition move for PM’s question hour time

Lahore: The National Assembly on Tuesday rejected Opposition’s move that there should be Prime Minister’s Question Hour Time on the first Wednesday of every session to respond to questions submitted by the members.

The House did not grant leave to introduce an amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly after the move was rejected by 60 to 73 votes.

Opposing the amendment, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said it was the collective responsibility of the Cabinet to respond to the questions raised by the Opposition benches.

He said the Prime Minister was a member and Leader of the House and whenever there was a need he (PM) came to the Parliament and did give a policy statement on national and international issues.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah told the House that in the previous government former Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gillani used to come to the House and responded to various questions raised by the members.

He said presence of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in the House on every Wednesday and answer to the members’ questions would strengthen the parliament, besides raising its stature.

He said it was also a practice in the Westminster system and it would further improve efficiency of the Parliament. He said the matter may be referred to the Committee for further discussion instead of rejecting it.

PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar and Shahida Rehmani also spoke in favour of the amendment and said it was an opportunity for the PM to come to the Parliament and express his point of view before the MPs.

The said empowered Parliament would ultimately strengthen democracy and democratic institutions, adding that Parliament should be taken into confidence on various national and international issues.