An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued to prorogue the Parliament in accordance with the powers vested in the President by Article 70 of the Constitution. Accordingly, the term of Parliament has come to an end with effect from midnight yesterday (12).
Prorogation means taking a temporary break from the business of Parliament, in which case the Speaker shall continue in office.
The Select Committees should be re-appointed at the commencement of a new session and the Committee on Higher Levels shall continue to function even after the end of its term.
When the end of the term ends and the new session resumes, it will be ceremonially opened by the President.
With the Closing of the Sessions of Parliament the Committees on Parliamentary Business, the Standing Orders Committee, the Legislative Committee, the Committee on Public Enterprises, the Committee on Public Accounts and other Committees shall cease to function and such Committees shall be re-appointed with the commencement of the new Session.
The next session of Parliament will resume on January 18 at 10 am, according to a gazette notification.
