A 130-member delegation from the National Defence University’s National Security and War Course visited Parliament House and Supreme Court with senior civil and military officers from Pakistan and friendly countries among its members on Monday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq welcomed the delegation, which met him under the leadership of General Muhammad Naeem Akhtar.
During the meeting, the speaker described the National Defence University as a leading educational institution whose graduates serve in senior civil and military positions across the country.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s parliamentary system, the structure and working of the National Assembly and the legislative process. He also explained the role of standing committees in lawmaking.
He said issues of national importance were discussed in the National Assembly, describing Parliament as a representative institution of the country’s 250 million people.
The speaker said Pakistan was an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other international parliamentary organisations. He added that Pakistan’s Parliament was raising the Kashmir issue at international forums.
Ayaz Sadiq said the speaker’s discretionary powers over recruitment in the National Assembly had been transferred to the Finance Committee. He said the National Assembly had saved Rs6 billion during the previous financial year as part of an austerity campaign.
He said an energy-efficiency audit of the National Assembly was carried out in 2013. In 2015, Pakistan’s Parliament became the world’s first parliament to operate on solar power, he said. He added that the Pakistani Parliament had recently received the first Green Assembly Award at the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
The speaker said Parliament was committed to legislation for rainwater harvesting. He also described the role of the speaker as important in promoting understanding between the government and opposition.
Ayaz Sadiq said an SDGs Secretariat had been established in the National Assembly in 2014 to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He added that a Gender Mainstreaming Committee had also been formed, while the Women Parliamentary Caucus was playing an important role in addressing issues affecting women.
He said the Young Parliamentarians Forum was helping strengthen links between young people and lawmakers. The National Assembly also offered internship opportunities to students, with preference given to students from remote areas of Balochistan and Sindh.
He said students taking part in the internship programme were introduced to parliamentary proceedings and the lawmaking process. He added that training courses were organised to improve the skills of National Assembly officers and staff, while recruitment was carried out on merit.
The speaker also said a drafting council had been established within the National Assembly Secretariat to assist members of Parliament. He described the negative use of social media as a major challenge.
Ayaz Sadiq also said Afghan territory was being used for terrorism against Pakistan.
General Muhammad Naeem thanked the speaker for briefing the delegation on the legislative process, the working of the National Assembly and environmentally friendly measures. The delegation also praised Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for his role in conducting proceedings of the House.
Later, a 123-member delegation from the National Defence University’s National Security and War Course 2027 visited the Supreme Court and met the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi.
According to a Supreme Court statement, the delegation was led by Major General Muhammad Shehzad Khan and included representatives of the armed forces, civil services and friendly countries.
The delegation was briefed on parliamentary democracy and the constitutional system. The Chief Justice explained the respective roles of the legislature, executive and judiciary and briefed the participants on judicial reforms and measures to improve institutional coordination.
The Chief Justice also highlighted steps to improve access to justice and judicial facilities. The delegation was briefed on improved facilities for women litigants and the establishment of women’s facilitation centres.
The Chief Justice answered questions from members of the delegation during the meeting.
The delegation later visited the Supreme Court Museum and the Court-Annexed Mediation Centre. Its members expressed interest in the court’s judicial records and institutional history.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan and the delegation leader also exchanged commemorative gifts.
Reporters: Rozina Ali and Amanat Gishkori