Opp writes retort letter to NA Speaker, urges on legislative consensus

The steering committee of the joint opposition in the parliament has written a retort letter to the National Assembly Speaker and demanded legislation with consensus and consultation.

According to the 24News HD TV channel, the steering committee’s virtual meeting was held on Sunday and the members considered the letter written by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser to Shehbaz Sharif in detail.

A reply to the Speaker's letter was written in the meeting and informed him about the correct method of legislation in the joint sitting of Parliament.

The opposition said in the letter that the government had not followed the procedure laid down for legislation on 21 drafts of the proposed bills that were passed by the NA on June 10, 2021.

The opposition’s letter said that all the legislation should be based on consensus and consultation in the national interest.

The letter proposed to the Speaker that the parliamentary committee already formed by him of both the Houses of Parliament to consider the entire package of electoral reforms should prepare a package of electoral reforms including Elections (Amendment) Bills 2021 by consensus.

The opposition in its letter further proposed that the said parliamentary committee should review and approve the election reforms unanimously.

The letter suggested to the Speaker to form a parliamentary committee for legislation on the basis of the committee formed on July 25, 2014, to deal with the legal matters.

The letter said the bills that were passed by NA but not the senate and have been referred to the joint parliament should be considered in the legislative committee.

The opposition also emphasized in the letter that they believed that consensus was needed on issues of national importance and parliamentary procedures and traditions should be adopted in this regard.