Sanjrani hints to suspend membership as ruckus erupts in Senate

Islamabad: The opposition lawmakers on Friday disrupted the proceedings of the Senate and protested near the dais of the Chairman who repeatedly warned to suspend the membership of those involved in halting the proceedings of the House. 

During the protest of the opposition lawmakers, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani asked them not to cross the limit otherwise he would have to take action and suspend the membership of those involved in ruckus in the House.

He also addressed a PTI lawmaker Faisal Javed to ensure decorum of the House otherwise he would take action. The Chairman Senate said that he would follow the suspension issue even in the ECP if the protesting lawmakers did not mend their ways.

Leader of the House Azam Nazeer Tarar said that it was agreed before the proceedings to listen the suggestions from the opposition as per parliamentary traditions but the opposition differently reacted in the House.

He said that lawmakers on the government benches were sitting silent and protest was being made by those who did not have strength to complete quorum and run the proceedings of the House.

The Senate was informed that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has been directed to involve external examiners in paper setting to ensure transparency in the overall assessment process.                

The house was also informed today that seven more educational institutions are near completion in the Federal Capital and these will be functional from August this year.

In a written reply, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training said that after the completion, these educational institutions will accommodate 7480 students. 

It was told that a total of seventeen public sector universities are imparting higher education in Islamabad Capital Territory in which around six lac students are studying.

It was further informed that the Federal Directorate of Education has 424 educational institutions from Primary to Degree level and over 225,000 students are currently studying in these schools and colleges.

During ‘question hour’, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain said that he has asked the HEC to involve a third-party for paper setting to avoid any kind of discrimination and harassment in universities.

Replying to another question, he said Readers Club, run by the National Book Foundation, has been closed as some booksellers were misusing this facility. 

“Now any citizen can buy books from the National Book Foundation on 50% discount,” he added.