Committee System in

Par liament of Pakistan:

Presentation
W indows of by :
Oppor tunity to Inter act with Civil
Society
Marvi Sirmed
National Project Manager
Strengthening Democracy through Parliamentary Development in
Pakistan (SDPD) Project
(UNDP / IPU / Parliament of Pakistan)
The Committee System

 Legislative committees (in some

countries called commissions) are units
of organization within a legislative
chamber that allow groups of legislatures
to review policy matters or proposed bills
more closely than would be possible by
the entire chamber.
Types of Committees
NA Senate
 Standing Committees  Standing Committees
(46) (28)
 Public Accounts  Functional Committees
(Committee on Govt. Assurances,
Committee Committee on Problems of Less
 Committee on Rules of Developed Areas, Committee on
Human Rights)
Procedures & Privileges
 Committee on Rules of
 House and Library
Procedures
Committee
 House Committee
 Special Committees (4)
 Library Committee
Standing Committees
 These are permanent responsibility committees
corresponding to Federal Ministries and
Divisions.
 Empowered to view all matters pertaining to
the ministries of the Federal Government
 The committees of both the Houses can invite
or summon any member or any person having
a special interest in relation to any matter
under consideration of a committee and may
hear expert evidence and hold public hearings
(Senate Rule 165: pp 71, NA Rule 208 (3): pp 78).
Standing Committees - - - - contd.

 The committees can also call for the

production of such papers and records as may
be required and considered necessary for the
discharge of their duties.
 Committees in their process of enquiry can
appoint sub-committees, which are enquiry or
fact-finding committees and cease to exist
upon the completion of the task assigned.
Standing Committees - - - - contd.

 Once a committee report is presented in the

House (NA), the committee chairperson or any
other member of that committee may move that
the report be taken into consideration (some
times despite the government's reluctance to
do so) whereupon, before putting the question
to the House, the Speaker may permit a debate
on the motion, not exceeding half-an-hour in
duration. After the motion is carried out, the
Speaker may allot one or more days for
discussion on the report (NA Rule
218: pp 81-82).
Mandate of the
Committees
 The rules empower the committees of the
National Assembly to “examine the
expenditures, administration, delegated
legislation, the public petitions and policies of
the ministry concerned and its associated
public bodies” and forward their findings and
recommendations to the concerned ministries,
and the ministries shall submit their reply to the
committees (NA Rule 184 (4)).
Public Hearings
 National Assembly Rule 208 (3) stipulates that the committees
can hold public hearing.
 On the other hand, Senate Rule 164 and National Assembly
Rule 207 stipulate, that “The sittings of a Committee may be
held in camera if so determined by the Committee”.
 Historically - committee sessions have been held in camera ,
as a way of avoiding a partisan approach and also reaching agreements with a comparative
ease.
 In secret sessions, the environment changes significantly:
Treasury Bench is able to be more critical and opposition
members do not fear to vote in favor of a reasonable motion,
though proposed by the ruling party.
Needs for Advocacy
 With the changing times and in the interest of
transparency and fostering public trust, the
Parliament in Pakistan needs to adopt a
practice where its committees should hold
public hearings which are also televised.
 Since committees are inherently constituted by
representatives of the public, their hesitation in
holding public hearings should not stand in the
way of free and easy public access to
committee meetings.
References
 Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in
the Senate 1988 (As amended up to 6th
February – 2006)
 Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in
The National Assembly 2007
 Parliament Committee System in Pakistan:
Comparison with American, Australian, British and Indian Systems By

PILDAT