Remarks against Fazl: Senate panel resents non-appearance of Burney

The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges on Tuesday expressed serious resentments on non-appearance of the former Federal Minister and human rights activist Ansar Burney before the committee being summoned twice for his remarks against Chairman Parliamentary Kashmir Committee, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman.
The committee, which met with Senator Tahid Hussain Mashadi in the chair, observed that Ansar Burney was summoned twice by the committee under the Senate Rules to explain his position on the statement made by him against Chairman of the Parliamentary Kashmir Committee and JUI-F Chief, but he avoids appearing before the committee every time.
While strongly condemning his remarks, Tahid Hussain Mashadi said that the committee took serious notice of the remarks he made against Mualana Fazal-ur-Rehman when he was leading a delegation of Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir to UK. "His statement caused great damage to the cause of Kashmir and also hurt sentiments of the people of Pakistan," he observed, adding that breach of privilege has been committed as Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, besides chairman of the Parliamentary Kashmir Committee also enjoys good repute among the people and political forces of the country.
The committee also condemned the statement of Burney and observed that such type of remarks was not expected from such a responsible person who has also remained Federal Minister. The committee unanimously recommended that Burney has committed breach of privilege of the House, its members and the committee for not appearing in the meeting despite being summoned twice.
Earlier, the committee felt that it was not mandated to take action against any body on morality based offense unless crime was committed, as the mover of the privilege motion, Senator Maulana Gul Naseeb demanded of the committee that it should direct the IG Punjab to take action against Ansar Burney.
The committee also took up the privilege motion moved by Senator Mir Wali Muhammad Badini on the submission of fake development schemes by unknown person to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Islamabad with his fake signatures on his letter pad and stamp for release of development funds amounting to Rs 10 million.
The committee directed that a letter should be written to IG, Police Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with the direction that he should take keen interest in the matter and order DPO, Bannu, to file case and take strict action against accused Mujahid Shah in accordance with the findings of the FIA and submit the report to the committee within one month.
The committee members said that police were using delaying tactics to apprehend the real culprit. The Committee also appreciated the efforts made by DG, FIA for conducting thorough inquiry into the matter.