ISLAMABAD: A Senate privilege panel on Monday exposed bureaucratic defiance, alleged favouritism and disregard for parliamentary oversight as senators confronted officials over ignored calls, alleged misconduct and controversial appointments.
The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, chaired by Senator Waqar Mehdi, considered several privilege motions, with some cases settled through apologies while others were escalated for further investigation.
The committee deferred a privilege motion filed by Senator Palwasha Khan against Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan because of his absence from the meeting.
In another case, Deputy Commissioner Keamari Abdul Sattar Hakro faced the committee over his alleged failure to meet Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto despite a request for an appointment.
Bhutto said his political office was barely two minutes from the deputy commissioner’s office and that he had sought the meeting to discuss a public-interest matter.
He alleged that his calls remained unanswered for more than a month.
The deputy commissioner attributed the lapse to his personal assistant, who was away for Umrah and allegedly failed to convey the senator’s call.
Hakro subsequently submitted a written apology, which the committee accepted with Bhutto’s consent.
The episode nevertheless prompted the chairman to direct the Parliamentary Affairs Division to approach the Establishment Division for instructions to officers to ensure cooperation with members of Parliament.
The committee also took up a privilege motion against PIMS Director/Chief Clinical Coordinator Dr Sharjeel Zaheer over alleged derogatory remarks concerning a parliamentarian.
Senator Palwasha said she had posted on social media about the deaths of 14 children at PIMS and that an officer allegedly made mocking comments after a related video was circulated.
The committee summoned the officer to its next meeting for clarification.
The most serious controversy centred on the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD), where Senator Bushra Anjum Butt accused Vice Chancellor Hina Tayyaba Khalil of failing or refusing to appear before a Senate committee.
Butt claimed the vice chancellor’s contractual tenure expired in December 2025 but that she continued in office.
She also raised concerns over the ongoing search for a new vice chancellor, alleging a possible conflict of interest because the incumbent’s sister was among the candidates.
She further alleged political support for the incumbent from the federal education minister.
The committee sought documents clarifying the legal status of the vice chancellor’s continued tenure and expressed serious reservations over allegations of nepotism and appointments based on personal preferences.
The chairman also ordered the personal appearance of PIFD officials who failed to attend through video link and directed that 13 individuals who signed the institution’s response to the committee be summoned.
The committee said it would apprise the President of Pakistan of the situation.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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