25 September 2004	Saturday	09 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: The angry legislators on Friday accused the bureaucracy for sabotaging the democratic institutions and holding them in contempt.

Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain supported the assertion and directed the relevant ministers to ensure presence of the secretaries while parliament was in session.

The barrage against the bureaucracy was unleashed by MNA Mehmood Khan Achakzai when the federal minister for tourism, Dr GG Jamal, sought time to give a reply to supplementary questions.

Noticing the absence of bureaucrats from the galleries, Mr Achakzai said, "the bureaucracy does not take parliament seriously, as not a single secretary is present in the galleries."

The Speaker, while acknowledging the point raised by Mr Achakzai, said the secretaries or the senior officials of the ministries should be present in the galleries during the session. He directed the federal ministers to ensure the presence of the relevant ministry officials.

The federal minister, Dr GG Jamal was put in an embarrassing situation when it was revealed that the question submitted was different in Urdu and English language. In English, the ministry was asked details about one-year profit while the same question in Urdu text had asked the details about the last 10 year's profit.

The minister assured the members that he would get the relevant figures and present it to the House. Meanwhile, in response to another question, the House was informed that the government spent Rs4.9 million to purchase furniture for the offices of the chairmen of standing committees of the National Assembly.

In response to a question by MNA Ramesh Lal, the minister for housing and works, Syed Safwanullah, denied that 40 to 60 per cent higher prices than the prevalent market rates were given for the purchase of the furniture.

The record provided to the House showed that vertical blinds were replaced in the offices of the chairmen of standing committees of the National Assembly at the old prime minister secretariat at a cost of Rs219,843. An amount of Rs25,65,108 was spent on buying furniture for the chairmen, Rs14,21,038 for the staff and Rs72,52,55 for replacement of carpets.