ISLAMABAD: Amid reports of rising number of legislators testing positive for Covid-19 and two days before presentation of the federal budget, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Tuesday inspected the main Assembly Hall to review seating and other arrangements to ensure principle of social distancing implemented.

Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser visited National Assembly Hall to examine the seating arrangements in the hall for the ongoing session of the Assembly. The speaker ordered for making new seating arrangement following the principle of social distancing.

In order to minimise chances of spread of coronavirus, there are new arrangements and seats in the hall have been placed at a distance of two meters apart. Senior officials of the National Assembly briefed Mr Qaiser that the visitors’ galleries would remain closed during the sittings of the assembly with minimum presence of secretariat staff.

Regarding presence of media in press gallery, he was apprised that the same principle had been observed while making seating arrangement for media in the press gallery and cards would be issued under standard operating procedures (SOP). The protocols have been jointly developed by National Assembly and the Senate secretariats, Ministry of Information and Parliamentary Reporters Association.

Orders for making mandatory for all visiting lawmakers to wear face masks and follow health guidelines and SOPs

He was further briefed that staff tested negative for coronavirus would be deputed to perform duties in the hall during the session.

The speaker expressed his satisfaction with the new seating arrangement, however, he directed for disinfection of Assembly Hall, chambers and offices on a daily basis. He also ordered for making it mandatory for everyone to wear face masks and follow health guidelines and SoPs to minimise the spread of the contagious virus.

More than 75 elected members and political figures have already tested positive for Covid-19. Seven provincial ministers and two former provincial members have lost the fight against the deadly virus. Provincial member Munir Orakzai who had recovered from coronavirus soon afterwards suffered a heart attack and passed away.

Most members now believe that despite following SoPs and observing social distancing, it is impossible to be careful while visiting their constituencies. A few members also said despite being careful during a National Assembly session, they were still infected.

Among the known members who recently got infected are PML-N former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former information minister Maryam Aurangzeb. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi conceded being careless during a court proceeding in Lahore. He had also been insisting on holding a National Assembly session.

Former health minister Saira Afzal Tarar also contracted the coronavirus. She and her husband were infected after a family member passed it on to them.

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has repeatedly declined to attend National Assembly proceedings citing fears of spread of coronavirus in the parliament. Recently, he declined to attend the National Assembly proceedings again.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Fawad Chaudhry wrote that he had gotten himself tested again after a friend visited who was infected with Covid-19.

“The results are back and I have tested negative for Covid-19,” he tweeted.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2020