ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani on Tuesday rejected former finance minister and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) leader Ishaq Dar’s request to take virtual oath as member of the Upper House of the Parliament.
Calling the request “unconstitutional”, Sadiq Sanjrani rejected the plea through a letter and a copy of the letter was also provided to the PML-N leader.
The chairman said that the Senate has its “own rules,” adding that the oath should be taken following the rules of the Constitution and the Senate, not “virtually or in high commission”.
According to the letter sent by Dar, the former minister requested to take the oath virtually (via video link) or asked for arrangements to be made by an administrator in the High Commission for Pakistan, London.
The ex-minister told, “I am writing this letter to convey my readiness and willingness to take the requisite oath as member of the Senate of Pakistan, at the earliest. Due to my prolonged illness and ongoing medical treatment within the United Kingdom, I am unable to return to Pakistan immediately to take the requisite oath in person.
“It is therefore requested that arrangements may please be made to enable me to take the required oath, virtually, through any electronic mode as you may deem convenient,” Ishaq Dar stated.
The former finance minister further mentioned, “In case for any reason, the requisite oath cannot be administered virtually, the constitutional mechanism provided under Article 255 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 may please be adopted and the High Commissioner of Pakistan in London, United Kingdom, or any other person in the High Commission of Pakistan, London may be nominated to administer my oath in London.”
