The upper house of parliament on Friday made amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate to curb “judicial interference” in the parliamentary affairs, after rejecting a government request for deferring the matter.
A motion seeking the amendment to the Rule 166(5) was moved by senators belonging to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
During the session, PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah, special assistant to the prime minister on political affairs, conveyed Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar’s request that the motion should not be taken up before discussion with him.
However, PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwala, who spearheaded the move and was chairing the session, said the “interference of courts” in house committees’ proceedings was the reason behind the change. “We do not want to delay it any further.”
Sanaullah questioned the urgency, to which Mandviwala replied that the functioning of the committees was being affected. He said the amendment, unanimously approved by the relevant standing committee, was in the interest of the Senate and its committees.
Stressing that it was the desire of the House, Mandviwala said he had already discussed the matter with the law minister and the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP). Sanaullah insisted the matter be deferred till Monday, but Mandviwala did not budge.
Senator Abdul Qadir moved the motion, which was passed by the House by a majority vote. Supporters of the amendment said the change will leave no legal room for the judiciary to interfere in parliamentary matters.
The Rule 166(5) barred petitions relating to matters within the cognisance of courts or tribunals. The latest amendment expands the definition of public petitions that can be taken up by Senate committees.
It states that a public petition submitted under Rule 277 may be presented on “any matter of public importance”, including grievances involving public interest, systemic concern, regulatory oversight or protection of rights.
