12 December 2004	Sunday	29 Shawwal 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has constituted a five-member sub-committee headed by MNA Zeb Gohar Ayub to formulate proposals for certain reforms in Fata which commensurate with the rights of adult franchise given by the President.

According to a press release, the sub-committee will present its recommendations within 15 days before the main committee. The recommendations would then be submitted to President Pervez Musharraf through National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain.

The committee met here on Saturday under the chairmanship of Sardar Nasrullah Dreshak to discuss the privilege motions moved by MNAs Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Sahibzada Haroonur Rasheed, Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah and Sher Akbar Khan.

It discussed the motion of Mr Wasan regarding alleged interception and his arrest by the police of Mirpur Khas District, Sindh, besides confiscation of his and his nephew's licensed arms.

The PPP MNA was arrested with his nephew, also an

MPA, by the police and his

vehicle and licensed weapons were confiscated on the eve of by-elections in Tharparkar in August.

The committee summoned Regional Police Officer (Hyderabad) Bachal Sangri, District Police Officer (Hyderabad) Altaf Hussain Bhatti, Tehsil Police Officer (Mirpur Khas) Atta Mohammad Nizamani and SHO Mirpur Khas Sikandar Rind.

After hearing the issue, the committee unanimously declared that the police was totally at fault and had no right to arrest and harass the MNA who was accompanied by his nephew MPA Nawab Khan Wasan while travelling to Mirpur Khas.

It asked Sindh Chief

Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim to take disciplinary action against the police officers concerned.

PPP MNA Naveed Qamar said the action was necessary against the officers who misbehaved and arrested Mr Wasan so that any such incident could not take place in future.

Meanwhile, the committee took a strong note and conveyed its displeasure at the absence of political agent of Bajour Agency whose presence was required with regard to the motion moved by MNA Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid.

The committee asked the National Assembly Secretariat to invite the NWFP Chief Secretary along with Bajour Agency political agent to the committee's next meeting.

The standing committee deferred the privilege motions moved by Khurshid Ahmad Shah and Sher Akbar Khan due to their absence.