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ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Senate Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari on Monday assured the upper house to diligently work for protecting rights of members and strengthening democracy.
In his maiden address to the House as Chairman, Bukhari also assured an enabling environment in the House and sought assistance from the seasoned law makers to run the House according to the Constitution and the rules.
“I assure all the members to continue seeking guidance from the constitution and rules of the House in dispensation of duties impartially and running the proceedings of the House,” he said, towards culmination of the inaugural session of the Senate after recent election of 54 Senators to the House.
He thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the coalition partners in the government to repose confidence in him to get elected as Chairman Senate.
He expressed confidence that election of senior law makers and legal experts to the Senate will help improve performance of the House as well as effective legislation for the welfare of masses.
“Today's Senate is much different from the previous one. Today the Parliament enjoys sovereignty and I need your assistance to ensure that the House is not subservient to the policies of the government,” he added.
Bukhari appreciated the cooperation of the members when he was Leader of the House and thanked media for objective reporting and cooperating with him.
He also expected the same cooperation by the members and media to run the House and assured to perform his duties keeping within the constitutional and legal limits to resolve the problems facing the country.
“Today's House is also different that today we have four minority members among us and this is track record of the PPP that it always worked for and protected the rights of the minorities. I assure more opportunities for them,” he added. “Prospering democracy will have pleasant effects on the lives of our people.”
He took exception on previous absence of ministers from the House when he was Leader of the House as well as mentioned to reaction of the members to this obliviousness. “I reiterate to ensure presence of the ministers as they are also answerable to this House.”
He stated that it is constitutional responsibility of the ministers to attend proceedings of this House and “I would ensure and make it compulsory that concerned ministers remain present in the House to answer the members about their respective ministries.”
He said the House committees play important role in good governance and I would ensure that the government implements recommendations of these committees to further strengthen the committee system.
“I would also ensure that ministers, secretaries and officials of the concerned ministries attend the committee meetings,” he said and assured to bring into force the rules of the House regarding absence of the ministers.
He also assured to pay special heed to Question Hour as he stated that it plays important role in good governance. The prime minister will also be attending the proceedings of the House to facilitate the members.
