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Afghanistan/South Asia
Unruly Pak MPs may lose salaries
2005-02-24
There's a significant savings!
ISLAMABAD — After studying the rules of the Indian and British parliaments, a panel of Pakistan's National Assembly has recommended that unruly members be deprived of their salaries and allowances. The report by a special committee on rules has proposed sweeping changes in the rules of business, but abolished the speaker's powers to delay the nomination of the leader of the house.

According to Press reports, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi will table the report in the house. The committee finalised its recommendations after a series of meetings and after studying the rules of the Indian and British parliaments. Under the amended rules, a member of the National Assembly cannot obstruct the proceedings and make "running commentaries" when speeches are being made. "He or she would not indulge in rowdy behaviour, not approach the dais of the speaker in a threatening manner, not act to erode the sanctity of the house by acting in a manner which lowers the dignity of the house."

He or she will also "not display banners, placards, not throw or tear documents and reports, not raise slogans, not act in any manner detrimental to the order and the decorum of the house, not applaud when a stranger enters any of the galleries except when a foreign delegation or dignitary is invited to the sitting."

"He or she would not occupy a seat in the galleries nor while in the chamber engage himself in conversation with any visitor in the gallery; not use mobile telephone; not chew or eat or drink or smoke and not bring any stick unless permitted by the speaker," the proposed rules say.

It says members will also not read books, ...
that shouldn't present a problem ...
... newspapers or letters except in connection with the business of the assembly; not pass between the chair and any member who is speaking; not interrupt any member while speaking by disorderly expression or noises in any other disorderly manner.

The News daily, quoting the report, said a member, if named thrice in a session by the speaker for creating unruly scenes, would lose his pay and allowances for one month in that session.
So make those first two count!
The speaker would also have powers to suspend the member for the remainder of the session and the assembly or for more than one session, on a motion moved by a minister or a member.

The decision and ruling of the speaker can be challenged by the house through a motion. Under the present rules, no one can challenge or move a motion against the speaker's rulings.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  Yeah, I lost my allowance for stuff like this once.
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2005-02-24 10:16:34 AM  

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