Meetings of NA body: Ministry asked to write letter to ensure required attendance

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges directed the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to write a letter to all the administrative heads of the federal and provincial ministries/divisions/departments to ensure their presence in person in committee's meetings.

The committee met with Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon in the chair at the Parliament house on Thursday. The committee confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on 23-9-2020.

On the question of privilege raised by Fawad Ahmed, Minister for Science and Technology regarding character assassination of the minister on a private TV channel (not Aaj News) (referred on 02-01-2020); the Committee expressed its displeasure over the failure of MD of that TV channel to attend the meeting of the committee.

The Committee also expressed its displeasure on the issue of misbehaving with the parliamentarians on TV programmes. The Committee took notice of the "immoral" programmes on TV channels.

The Committee directed the chairman/MD PEMRA to provide a copy of the video programme launched by an anchorperson of that TV channel against the chairman of the Privilege Committee and the Standing Committee as well.

The Committee also directed that the chairman PEMRA should also attend the next meeting of the committee in person, and also ensure the attendance of the MD of that TV channel in the next meeting of the Committee.

On the question of privilege raised by Shahida Rehmani, MNA, regarding "inaction" of Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Karachi, Additional Inspector General of Police, Sindh, Karachi, and Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on her complaints regarding threats to her (referred on 19-2-2020); the committee disposed of the matter at the Sindh Police level. The Committee pended the question of privilege with the direction that the Interior Ministry, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Federal Investigating Agency (FIA), should have a joint meeting for preparing a proper mechanism in this regard, and report to the Committee within 15 days.

On the question of privilege raised by Abdul Shakoor Shad, MNA, regarding non-response to the telephone call of MNA by Commissioner Karachi (Referred on 10-8-2020); the committee pended the question of privilege with the displeasure for not attending the meeting by present and ex-commissioners Karachi, and directed that in case, both the commissioners do not attend the meeting of the committee in future, the committee would take action as per rules and regulations.

The meeting was attended by Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Zulfiqar Ali Khan, Dullah, Ghulam Muhamamd Lali, Nawab Sher, Khuram Shahzad, Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Muhammad Amjad Farooq Khan Khosa, Muhammad Sajjad, Chaudhry Armghan Subhani, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhary, Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Shagufta Jumani, and Ali Wazir, MNAs/members.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020