Deadlock Over Senate Standing Committees: Government and Opposition at an Impasse
Faraz highlights the critical role of standing committees in overseeing government policies and maintaining parliamentary accountability.
ISLAMABAD: Deadlock has gripped Pakistan’s Senate as the government and opposition fail to agree on the formation of key standing committees.
The issue centers around the distribution of influential committees, with the government coalition allegedly seeking control of crucial areas like foreign affairs, finance, and interior.
Sources report that a critical meeting between Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, Leader of the House Ishaq Dar, and Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz concluded without resolution.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) reportedly seeks control of the Finance and Law and Justice committees, specifically advocating for Farooq H. Naik to chair the latter.
On the other hand, Shibli Faraz vehemently rejects the government’s proposal, urging for committee distribution based on past practices. He argues that the opposition held these committees for the past 12 years and deserves continued control.
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Faraz highlights the critical role of standing committees in overseeing government policies and maintaining parliamentary accountability. He accuses the government of attempting to stifle this process through unfair allocation, which he terms a “weak and undemocratic practice.”
The opposition leader further blames the previous PDM-2 government for damaging national institutions.
