Parliamentary committees on judges and ECP being re-formed

With the PML-Q becoming part of the treasury benches, the parliamentary committees on judges and the Election Commission of Pakistan are going to be reconstituted under the constitutional obligation pushing three PML-Q lawmakers – Ghous Bukhsh Mehar, Haroon Akhtar Khan and Ameer Muqam – to quit the membership of the prestigious committees while PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain is likely be accommodated by the PPP in the judges committee in Senator Sabir Baloch’s place.
The PML-N has also written a letter to the secretary of the Parliamentary Committee on Judges seeking reconstitution of the committee after PML-Q leaving the opposition in both Houses of parliament. Senator Ishaq Dar, member of the Parliamentary Committee on Judges, letter says, 1. Clause (10) of Article 175A of the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan mandates equal representation to the treasury and opposition members from the two Houses of parliament in the eight-member committee, composed for consideration of recommendations of the Judicial Commission constituted under the said article. 2.
In view of the PML-Q having joined the Treasury benches, the parliamentary committee earlier composed and notified in pursuance of clause (9) of the aforesaid Article 175-A requires re-composition. For the purpose, existing members of the PML-Q, who were earlier in the opposition, are required to be substituted with new members from the remaining opposition parties in compliance with the constitutional command. 3.
The matter is extremely urgent as the recent recommendations of the judicial commission for appointment of judges in the superior courts are required to be considered latest by May 8 2011 per time frame specified in Clause (12) of the said Article. 4. Keeping in view the time constraint explained above, immediate issue of revised notification of the subject committee will be appreciated.
Presently, the committee has eight members with 50-50 formula from both Houses and also equal representation from both treasury and opposition benches.
From the treasury side of the National Assembly, Aftab Shaaban Merani and Asma Arbab Alamgir are the members of the committee, while from the treasury benches of the Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, who is also chairman of the committee, and Sabir Baloch are its members. From the opposition benches in the National Assembly Mehtab Abbasi (PML-N) and Ghous Bukhsh Mehar (PML-Q) have representation in the committee while from the opposition benches of the Senate Shujaat Hussain (PML-Q) and Ishaq Dar (PML-N) are the members of the committee.
After PML-Q’s joining the treasury benches, both Mehar and Shujaat will have to quit the seats in the committees leaving behind an opportunity for the JUI-F to get its members accommodated as now it has turned into second largest opposition party in the National Assembly and the largest parliamentary party in the Senate. A source in the PML-Q said Shujaat would not loose his job as the PPP would accommodate him by Baloch with him.
Like the reconstitution of the parliamentary committee on judges’ appointment, the parliamentary committee on ECP would also be reconstituted. The National Assembly speaker on February 22 had notified a 12-member Joint Parliamentary Committee on ECP comprising Khurshid Shah (PPP), Islamuddin Sheikh (PPP), Arif Aziz (PPP), Khawaja Asif (PML-N), Tehmina Daultana (PML-N), Abdul Qadir Baloch (PML-N), Abdul Ghafoor Haideri (JUI-F), Dr Farooq Sattar (MQM), Haji Adeel (ANP), Munir Orakzai (FATA), Haroon Akhtar (PML-Q) and Amir Muqam (PML-Q).
On the seats which will be vacated in the parliamentary committee on ECP by Akhtar and Muqam, the PML-N will get Senator Raja Zafarul Haq accommodated from the Senate as the party becomes second largest party in the Upper House while the JUI-F will secure the second slot being vacated by Muqam from the opposition benches of the National Assembly. After the passage of 18th Amendment, the parliamentary committee on ECP would consist of maximum 12 members, eight from the National Assembly and four from the Senate.
According to the 18th Amendment, “The parliamentary committee to be constituted by the speaker shall comprise 50 percent members from treasury benches and 50 percent from opposition benches, based on their strength in the Majlis-e-Shoora (parliament), to be nominated by the respective parliamentary leaders.” “Provided further that the total strength of the parliamentary committee shall not exceed twelve members out of which one-third shall be from the Senate.”