Former speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza on Friday said that she had provided the power of speech to the deaf parliament and for the first time in history peaceful transition of power was going to take place in the nation.
Addressing the reception ceremony of Parliamentary Reporters Association, (PRA) she said that record legislation had been made for the first time in last five years which presented a positive face of the parliament.
She said establishment of PRA was a good omen, adding that it was the responsibility of all leaders to strengthen the media.
Moreover, Dr Fehmida said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had strengthened democratic institutions but it was not easy to proceed with 342 members in the house without being biased. She said that she had tried her best in maintaining neutrality in the parliament during the proceedings.
She said that opposition also played a positive role in making legislation with census, adding that democracy could not be strengthen without a strong and vocal opposition.
“I remained unbiased in forming of parliamentary committees and gave the presiding of Public Accounts Committee to the opposition leader,” she said.
Talking about the achievements of the parliament she said that the18th, 19th and 20th Amendments commendable achievements of the parliament.
Furthermore, she said that she had designed the logo of the National Assembly, giving its members recognition all over the country.
Moreover, she said that she had not taken any special privileges in five years of her tenure and did not even spend a single night in Rs 260 million Speaker House.
Concluding her address she suggested to divert the development funds in the least developed areas rather than to use them one’s own constituency. Replying to a query, she said that notification for the opposition leader should be issued as soon as possible
