Bilawal presses opposition to engage with parliamentary committees

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari urged the opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday to take an active part in parliamentary committees, saying a strong legislature is needed if Parliament is to perform its constitutional role and empower the people of Pakistan.

According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, Bilawal told the house that political leaders should move beyond political point-scoring and accusations and work collectively, and that Parliament should play its role effectively.

The Minute Mirror reported that he also called on the government to brief Parliament on the difficulties the country faces, asking Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to address the National Assembly and tell lawmakers about the situation. Bilawal said Pakistan was in a difficult period and that Parliament needed to be active on national issues.

The PPP chairman said the opposition should make effective use of its parliamentary strength instead of staying disengaged from legislative business, according to the Minute Mirror. He pointed to the opposition's absence from the Finance Committee, saying it had weakened Parliament's role.

"If Parliament is strong, we are all strong," the Minute Mirror quoted Bilawal as saying, adding that the government also had clear responsibilities and must fulfil them.

He said the opposition leader should ensure that opposition members attend committee meetings if the aim is a stronger legislature, arguing that participation in committee proceedings is what improves scrutiny of government business and contributes to policymaking.

Bilawal also proposed forming a committee on electoral reforms, and questioned how effective such a body would be if the opposition refused to take part in it. Electoral reform, he said, requires engagement from every parliamentary stakeholder if it is to make progress.

The APP report said Bilawal spoke in the National Assembly on Thursday. Neither account carried an immediate response from the opposition benches.