Senate opposition chief Shibli Faraz has written to Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, saying that PPP Senator Palwasha Khan’s chairing of Friday’s session within the deputy chairman’s presence was “undermining the respect and authority of the office”, it emerged on Saturday.
The Senate witnessed a heated alternate between the treasury and opposition benches on Friday because the PTI referred to as out Palwasha for chairing the session within the presence of Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasir.
Senate Chairman Gilani presided over the proceedings however left 40 minutes into the session, upon which Senator Palwasha started chairing the session.
Soon after, PTI Senator Fauzia Arshad stated it was regrettable that Palwasha was presiding over the session whereas the deputy chairman was current.
Palwasha replied it was the chairman’s prerogative to make that call, including that the deputy chairman arrived after she had already begun chairing the session.
Continuing with an analogous line of criticism as his fellow PTI senator, Leader of the Opposition within the Senate, Shibli Faraz stated: “Don’t make a mockery of the House and don’t harm its sanctity. It is inappropriate that you sit as the deputy chairman [in his presence], who has a role in the chairman’s absence, and you make him a piece of decoration.”
The opposition chief and Palwasha had a heated alternate because the latter stated the deputy chairman got here in after her whereas Faraz insisted that Nasir was already seated within the Senate.
In his letter, which Dawn.com has seen, Shibli wrote: “According to International parliamentary practices, it is deemed inappropriate and disrespectful for any member to preside over Senate sessions when the Deputy Chairman is present in the House.”
He argued that by taking the chair, Palwasha had allegedly violated Rule 14 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business within the Senate, which states that within the absence of the chairman, the deputy chairman will chair the session. However, it’s Rule 13 that mentions the chairperson’s powers to delegate.
The senator added that the position of the deputy chairman is “constitutionally significant”, thus Palwasha chairing the session “undermines its (the office’s) authority and respect”.
Though he harassed the necessity to adhere to parliamentary guidelines and decorum, Shibli didn’t truly suggest any motion on this letter.