ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet members are said to have claimed that they are a victim of "system's bias" defined as the bureaucracy's rigid attitude.
This hue and cry of Cabinet members was seen at a recent meeting of the Cabinet held after the Prime Minister secured vote of confidence from the National Assembly after the unexpected defeat of Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh in Senate elections.
Official documents seen by Business Recorder reveal that some of the members complained about the inordinate delays in matters relating to their constituencies due to sclerotic bureaucracy as well as cumbersome and obsolete governmental procedures.
The Cabinet members argued that the system was biased against the politicians as a parliamentarian does not have the power to attest documents which a grade 17 officer can.
The Cabinet members expressed their disappointment with the system and further stated that they are disqualified from becoming members of Boards of Pubic Sector Entities (PSEs) and even have trouble opening bank accounts, having been defined as "political exposed person."
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who met dozens of parliamentarians before the recent Senate elections, after receiving reports that they can vote for the opposition candidates, acknowledged that he had been receiving similar complaints from MNAs and decided to constitute a committee to identify reasons for governmental delays in the matters relating to parliamentarians, the bias against politicians, and to give recommendations to the Cabinet for resolving these issues.
After hearing the woes of Cabinet members, the Cabinet constituted the following committee to determine the reasons for governmental delays, the bias against politicians, and recommendations to the Cabinet: (i) Minister for Education & Professional Training (Convener); (ii) Minister for Defence; (iii) Minister for Science & Technology and; (iv) Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institution Reforms & Austerity.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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