Senators to get tested for Covid-19 before session on 12th.

Byline: Iftikhar A. Khan

ISLAMABAD -- All senators will be required to undergo test for Covid-19 before attending the Senate session on May 12.

The session has been convened by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on a requisition submitted by the opposition a day after the government announced summoning the National Assembly session on May 11.

The opposition members had submitted the requisition notice under Article 54(3) of the Constitution with a five-point agenda, mainly seeking discussion on the situation related to coronavirus and its impact on the country's economy.

Under the Constitution, Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani is bound to convene the session within 14 days - by May 20. However, the chairman promptly acted this time to convene the session on May 12, a day after the National Assembly will meet for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A testing facility for the senators has been established at the parliament lodges.

Mr Sanjrani, before convening the session, consulted parliamentary leaders at a business advisory committee meeting. It was decided that the session would continue for a week and effort would be made to limit each sitting to two hours at the maximum.

No one will accompany lawmakers to the Parliament House

Mr Sanjrani said arrangements had been made in the Senate hall under social distancing SOPs and seats to the members would also be allocated in the galleries.

The parliamentary leaders will decide the mechanism for phased participation of their members in the session. Minimal staff of the Senate Secretariat will attend the office during the session.

Under the SOPs, all senators will use masks, gloves and sanitisers to be provided at their tables.

No individual will be allowed to accompany the senators to the Parliament...