National Assembly's Standing Committee on Science and Technology deferred discussion on three bills that seek to "achieve objective of valuable participation of the people in rules making process" and effective parliamentary oversight regarding delegated legislation, following reservations from the Ministry of Law and Justice and one of the committee members regarding the proposed amendments in the bills.

The committee met under the chairmanship of Sajid Mehdi from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The committee discussed in detail three private member bills; National Institute of Oceanography Amendment Bill 2019, Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority Bill 2019, and Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources Bill 2019, moved by Syed Fakhar Imam from the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Briefing the committee about the amendments proposed in these bills, Imam said, "The proposed amendments would achieve objective of valuable participation of the people in rules making process, meaningful exercise of authority by the minister-in-charge to assume primary responsibility, for the disposal of business pertaining to his portfolio including rule making and efficient and effective parliamentary oversight relating to delegated legislation."

"Although under the Constitution, the cabinet is collectively responsible to the Senate and the National Assembly, yet under the Rules of Business, 1973, the minister-in-charge is responsible for policy concerning his division and the business of the division is ordinarily, disposed of by, or under his authority, as he assumes primary responsibility for the disposal of business pertaining to his portfolio. Therefore it is necessary that all rules, including previously published, made after the prorogation of the last session shall be laid before both Houses; as soon as may be after the commencement of a session and thereby shall stand referred to the standing committee concerned with the subject matter the rules," he added.

The committee's chairman supported the bill and recommended that the three bills should be passed by the NA panel.

However, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad from PML-N opposed the bill saying, "The crucial amendments proposed in the bills entail complex implications on delegated legislation. In my opinion, the speaker National Assembly should be consulted for adopting more inclusive and accommodating approach towards these amendments. Discussing these amendments in the standing committees is not the right approach. A broader and holistic view needs to be taken regarding the matter."

The representatives of the Law and Justice Ministry also expressed reservations regarding the proposed amendments, saying the ministry needs to review minutely the amendments proposed by Imam in the three bills.

The committee then asked the ministry to hold a meeting with the mover of the three bills to resolve the points of divergence and give its report to the committee in the next meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019