Remuneration and Facilities of Office Bearers and Members of Federal Parliament Act, 2016

2. Definitions: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act, -

(a) "Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the National Assembly.

(b) "Deputy Speaker" means the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(c) "Vice-Chairperson" means the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly.

(d) "Office-bearer" means the Speaker, Chairperson, Leader of the Opposition Party, Leader of the Ruling Party, Chief Whip of the Ruling Party, Deputy Speaker, Vice-Chairperson, Chief Whip of the Opposition Party, Chief Whip of the Ruling Party, Chief Whip of a Party, Whip of the Ruling Party, Whip of the Opposition Party, and Chairperson, and the said term also denotes the office-bearer of the Legislature-Parliament.

(e) "Leader of the Opposition Party" means the person chosen as the leader of the parliamentary party by the following party:

(1) The party having the highest number of members among the parties, other than the party forming the Council of Ministers or supporting the formation of the Council of Ministers, which has ten percent or more members in the House of Representatives or the National Assembly,

(2) If there are more than one party having ten percent or more members in the House of Representatives or the National Assembly with an equal number of members, any one party recognized by those parties on the basis of mutual agreement,

(3) If mutual agreement cannot be reached pursuant to sub-clause (2), the party which has received written consent from the highest number of members of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly, other than the party forming the Council of Ministers or supporting the formation of the Council of Ministers, for the purpose of choosing the Leader of the Opposition Party,

(4) If there is no written consent pursuant to sub-clause (3), or if there is no party having ten percent or more members in the House of Representatives or the National Assembly other than the party forming the Council of Ministers or supporting the formation of the Council of Ministers, the party designated by the Speaker or Chairperson for the House of Representatives or the National Assembly, or

(5) If a person is already the Leader of the Opposition Party and due to any reason a party attains more than ten percent of members in the House of Representatives or the National Assembly and becomes the party with the highest number of members, such party.

(6) For the purpose of this clause, the concerned party or member shall submit the mutual agreement pursuant to sub-clause (2) within fifteen days from the date of the first session of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly after the election of members of the House of Representatives, and the written consent pursuant to sub-clause (3) within fifteen days from the date on which mutual agreement could not be reached.

(f) "Chief Whip of the Opposition Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the Leader of the Opposition Party to work as the Chief Whip of the Opposition Party in the House of Representatives.

(g) "Leader of the Ruling Party" means any member of the National Assembly, other than a minister nominated by the Prime Minister, to conduct government business in the National Assembly on behalf of the ruling party.

(h) "Chief Whip of the Ruling Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the leader of the parliamentary party having a majority in the House of Representatives or, if there is no party having such a majority, by the Prime Minister to work as the Chief Whip of the Ruling Party in the House of Representatives.

(i) "Chief Whip of the Ruling Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the leader of the parliamentary party of a party participating in the government, having more than ten percent of members in the House of Representatives, if there is no party having a majority in the House of Representatives, to work as the Chief Whip of that party.

(j) "Chief Whip of a Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the leader of a party having more than ten members in the House of Representatives to work as the Chief Whip of that party.

(k) "Whip of the Ruling Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the leader of the parliamentary party having a majority in the House of Representatives or, if there is no party having such a majority, by the Prime Minister to work as the Whip of the Ruling Party in the House of Representatives.

(l) "Whip of the Opposition Party" means the member of the House of Representatives designated by the Leader of the Opposition Party to work as the Whip of the Opposition Party in the House of Representatives.

(m) "Member" means a member of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly other than a minister or office-bearer, and the said term also denotes a member of the Legislature-Parliament.

(n) "Chairperson" means the chairperson of any committee of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly.

(o) "Speaker" means the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(p) "Committee" means any committee of the House of Representatives or the National Assembly, and the said term also denotes a joint committee of both Houses of Parliament.