Standing committees dysfunctional after new portfolios, PTI resignations

ISLAMABAD: The legislation process has come to a halt after several standing committees of the Parliament went dysfunctional due to the recent reshuffle in the portfolios in the new government and the resignations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers.

According to News360, several standing committees of the Senate and the National Assembly (NA) went dysfunctional due to portfolios’ reshuffle in the new government and the PTI lawmakers’ resignations.

The chairpersons of the dysfunctional standing committees of both Houses were either appointed on other portfolios in the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) led government in the Centre.

It was learnt that the NA’s Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan came to halt following the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur. The current chairman of the committee is Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan, according to the official website.

The Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was earlier chaired by PTI’s Sher Ali Arbab, however, he tendered his resignation.

Rana Tanveer Hussain was performing duties as the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), however, he was elevated as Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training.

Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI-P) was earlier chairing the Senate’s Finance Committee before being appointed as the Federal Minister of States and Frontier Regions. The finance committee is now being chaired by Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, according to the website.

Syed Naveed Qamar, who was the chairperson of the NA’s Standing Committee on Commerce, is now elevated as Federal Commerce Minister.

The Parliamentary Affairs’ standing committee was earlier being chaired by PTI’s Riaz Fatyana before he resigned from his NA membership. The legislation process was halted despite the appointment of PTI’s Mujahid Ali, who has also resigned.