News
Senate complains of bureaucracy, ministers’ indifference
* PPP moves motion against FO for saying MPs don’t understand foreign policy
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The opposition senators on Friday walked out of the Senate on the third consecutive day against what they complained were incomplete or inappropriate responses of the federal ministers.
The opposition walked out against the alleged inefficiency of the ministers and unsatisfactory replies to the members’ questions. Senate Chairman Nayyar Bokhari also expressed displeasure over the behaviour of bureaucracy and ministers towards parliament and its members. He referred the matter of an improper response to the question of PPPP legislator Sughra Imam to the privileges committee.
The senator had asked the government to state the criteria laid down for the creation of Aviation Division but the government failed to provide the criteria and just said that the prime minister has the right to establish any division, whenever necessary. The opposition senators made a hue and cry when Federal Minister Qadir Baloch told the House that he does not have the criteria for establishing a division. The combined opposition walked out over “incomplete response from the government”.
The Senate chairman advised the leader of the House to ensure that all ministers come to the House well prepared and also reposed to supplementary questions properly. PPP’s Senator Mian Raza Rabbani moved a privilege motion against the Foreign Office spokesperson who, in a weekly press briefing, told journalists that parliamentarian do not understand the foreign policy. Rabbani said the FO spokesperson’s statements were tantamount to breaching the privilege of all the legislators. The Senate chairman referred the privilege motion to committee concerned. The Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control chairman presented the committee’s report for the period from July 4, 2012 to March 19, 2013. The House admitted the report for debate in a later sitting. It also passed a motion to extend the date for presentation of the report of the special committee on the issue of non-compensation of decree holders of land acquired for AFV Ranges in Nowshera.
The minister of state for parliamentary affairs replied to a calling attention notice, sponsored by two female lawmakers of PPPP, regarding renewal of contracts of medical staff working in the Federal General Hospital and Federal Medical and Dental College, Chak Shehzad, Islamabad. The chair referred the matter to the relevant committee and sought a report within a week.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said all provinces were equal and respectable for the federal government. While rejecting the objection of Senator Kalsoom Parveen during the question-hour, Aftab Ahmed said the perception of superior treatment of one province (Punjab) by the government in deputing officers was not right. “Inspector general (IG) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is deputed from Punjab on the request of that province,” he stated.
To another question, the minister said funds of Rs 1.3 billion had been provided to the Federal Directorate of Education for female schools of the capital during financial year 2011-12. He said Rs 472.71 million were given to primary schools, Rs 560 million to middle high schools, while Rs 300 million were provided to model colleges of females. Sheikh Aftab said a total of 422 schools and colleges fall under the jurisdiction of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk