Parliament Archives - Dissent Today https://dissenttoday.net/tag/parliament/ Speaking Truth to Power Thu, 04 May 2023 07:57:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 All Parties Conference Organized By ANP Puts Faith In Parliament https://dissenttoday.net/news/all-parties-conference-organized-by-anp-puts-faith-in-parliament/ https://dissenttoday.net/news/all-parties-conference-organized-by-anp-puts-faith-in-parliament/#respond Thu, 04 May 2023 07:57:55 +0000 https://dissenttoday.net/?p=3809 An All Parties Conference led by Awami National Party (ANP) in Islamabad has called for ensuring the parliament’s supremacy “at all costs” while demanding that general elections be held after the completion of the National Assembly’s tenure. Earlier, Supreme Court had ordered the government to hold polls for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies n May […]

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]]> An All Parties Conference led by Awami National Party (ANP) in Islamabad has called for ensuring the parliament’s supremacy “at all costs” while demanding that general elections be held after the completion of the National Assembly’s tenure.

Earlier, Supreme Court had ordered the government to hold polls for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies n May 14 in a suo motu case.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had dissolved both the provincial assemblies, hoping the dissolution of two of the country’s four assemblies will force Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government to announce immediate general elections.

However, both ECP and Defence Ministry have urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its order to hold provincial elections on May 14 due to “security concerns”.

The APC, which was attended by representatives of all the political parties except PTI, discussed elections for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab assemblies and stated that the

current political, judicial, and economic crises have created an uncertain situation. Therefore, it is pertinent that the parliament’s supremacy remains intact in such circumstances, which would not be possible if politics is terminated.

According to the joint declaration released after the conference, the parties were also of the view that political decisions should not be taken to the courts, instead, they should be resolved by parliament and political parties.

The participants also demanded that the judiciary should not act beyond its mandate and limit itself to the interpretation of the Constitution, reported Express Tribune.  

The participants also discussed other issues, including the resurgence of terrorism.

The political parties were of the view that unconstitutional policies, which included the resettlement of terrorists in Pakistan, were one of the major reasons for the resurgence of terrorism in the country.

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]]> https://dissenttoday.net/news/all-parties-conference-organized-by-anp-puts-faith-in-parliament/feed/ 0 RTI Act: PTI Lawmaker Wants Citizens’ Access To Parliament’s Records Restricted https://dissenttoday.net/news/rti-act-pti-lawmaker-wants-citizens-access-to-parliaments-records-restricted/ https://dissenttoday.net/news/rti-act-pti-lawmaker-wants-citizens-access-to-parliaments-records-restricted/#respond Thu, 09 Feb 2023 12:55:35 +0000 https://dissenttoday.net/?p=1543 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Wajid Iqbal and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Manzoor Ahmed have proposed changes to the information act bill, suggesting restricting the public’s right to information from the National Assembly and Senate, including their secretariats, committees, and members. The members of civil society have criticised the move, calling it “regressive”. The Rights […]

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]]> Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Wajid Iqbal and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Manzoor Ahmed have proposed changes to the information act bill, suggesting restricting the public’s right to information from the National Assembly and Senate, including their secretariats, committees, and members. The members of civil society have criticised the move, calling it “regressive”.

The Rights of Access to Information Act 2017 provides an overall legal framework for the enforcement of citizens’ right to information. It ensures that everyone shall have the fundamental right of access to information and promote the purpose of making the Government more accountable to its people, and of improving participation by the people in public affairs, and promoting good governance.

The proposed amendment to the act suggests that the public would not be able to seek information from the National Assembly and Senate, including their secretariats, committees, and members. The bill is scheduled to be taken up next week in the Cabinet.

According to Dawn, the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) has urged the lawmakers to reject the proposed amendment, deeming it “regressive”.

In letters written to lawmakers, the CPDI said the efforts to weaken laws should be rejected and instead the citizens’ access to the information must be strengthened.

PPP leader Farhatullah Babar also said expressed concerns over the proposed amendment, saying “By excluding itself from RTI Act 2017, refusing transparency while demanding transparency from all other state institutions the parliament is only ridiculing itself. Pity. Parliament bemoaning that it is not respected sounds hollow.”


Former Punjab Information Commissioner Mukhtar Ahmad Ali questioned the PTI senator for proposing the amendment, saying that the proposed changes to the act will make “parliament less transparent”.

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