Trainees of Islamabad Club: Senate body voices concern over reports of steroids in gym

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has expressed serious concern over the reports that the trainers of Islamabad Club are giving harmful medicines (steroids) to young trainees of its gymnasium and directed the relevant authority to investigate the matter and submit report immediately to the committee.
The committee met with Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood in the chair here at the Parliament Lodges on Wednesday.
The committee discussed the issues including the report of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) about amendment made in Rule 11(i) of the qualification criteria of Central Superior Services (CSS) examination, extension and regularization of medical staff of Cardiac Centre of PIMS, and management of gymnasium in Islamabad Club.
The committee chairman said that he is receiving reports that medicines (steroids) are being given to teenagers of the gymnasium by the trainers, particularly main person Farooq in personal capacity which can be harmful to the health of young people who don't know what they are being given.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, who was present in the meeting, took this issue seriously and directed the high authorities of Islamabad Club to conduct inquiry into the matter and submit report within two days to him and the committee.
"I and children of my nation will never tolerate it. Chairman, you must summon Jehanzeb Khan, administrator Islamabad Club, in the next meeting," he said.
The secretary cabinet said that such medicines are available in local markets and Ministry of Health should also take action.
The minister said that committee members should pay a surprise visit to Islamabad Club to observe actual position. The committee also decided to make pay a surprise visit to the club.
The committee was also given a briefing by Islamabad Club regarding administration and management of gymnasium in the club along with the rules and regulations and services provided for members.
The committee members also expressed concern over the deteriorating quality of services and food available at the club and decided to take detailed briefing by the administrator and visit the club.
While discussing the report by the FIA pertaining to the amendments made in Rule 11(i) of the qualifying criteria of Central Superior Services (CSS) Examination 2013 and 2014 by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) without seeking approval of the competent authority, the committee was told by the FIA that due process was not carried out while making the amendments in 2008 and 2012.
The committee was told that at the time of approval of the amendments, the drafts were not clear on the amendments proposed. The amendment pertained to changing the passing criteria of the CSS examination by adding word 'or' in the rule in 2008 and removing the same provision in 2012.
The committee members were of the view that mala fide intention in bringing the amendments shows that it was carried out to accommodate or disqualify some particular candidates.
The secretary FPSC told the meeting that in 2013, only 11 candidates were affected due to this amendment in the rule and the number of affected candidates in 2014 was four.
The FIA told the committee that the amendments cannot be termed mala fide because no information on beneficiaries or affectees was found and the rules were not changed during the examination process.
The committee directed the FPSC to submit details of the beneficiary candidates from 2008 to 2012 and asked the FPSC to locate those who were behind these amendments back in 2008 and 2012. The committee also decided to review the FPSC rules in detail.
During discussion on extension of contract period of the contractual medical staff at Cardiac Center PIMs, the committee was told by secretary National Health Services that a summary was sent on August 19 for extension of contract so that they can get their salaries as the FPSC process of recruitment. However, the approval is still awaited. The committee was told that three extensions of six months each had previously been given and this is the fourth one for doctors in BPS 16-19.
The committee called for some long-term permanent solution to the issue which cannot be done with extensions but with regularisation. The committee directed the FPSC to complete the recruitment process in three months.
The principal of National College of Arts gave a briefing to the committee regarding organisation, administration, ongoing projects, culture and history of NCA. It was told that NCA that had been established in 1875 with three departments has now 12 departments, adding that 1,600 students are currently enrolled in the college. The committee appreciated the work conducted by National College of Arts (NCA) students in various institutions and cities of the country, including the ceiling of National Assembly and Gali-e-Dastoor in the Senate.
The committee recommended increasing the government funding of the college which currently stands at Rs 215 million annually. The committee members proposed utilising the expertise of NCA in helping the art departments of leading provincial higher education institutions to provide fine art education opportunity across the country. The committee also supported the proposal of principal NCA to use the premises of Arts and Crafts Village and Pak-China Friendship Center as campus of NCA in Islamabad.