Senate body empowered to probe deals: Sales, purchases by PIA
By Arshad Sharif
ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: Senate's Standing Committee on Defence Chairman Nisar Memon has empowered the nominated committee members to investigate matters related to various deals of sales and purchases by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
Talking to a group of journalists at the Parliament Lodges here on Monday, Mr Memon said a committee member, Senator Rukhsana Zuberi, had conveyed to him that the PIA had submitted incomplete information to various queries sent by the committee members with reference to multi-million dollar deals struck by the national airline.
Mr Memon said if the PIA did not cooperate with the designated committee members regarding furnishing of information relating to sale of Airbus A300B4, Boeing 747-200 and purchases of 777, a full committee meeting would be called on the issue.
"If it (PIA) merits a full committee meeting, we would do that," he said. He said the government was committed to transparency in governance, and subordinate government departments and organizations had to submit to the supremacy of the parliament.
He said the committee would look into various organizations under the defence ministry and with the cooperation of the opposition set a strategic direction for the organizations.
Replying to a question whether the Senate committee would look into the sale of Airbus A300B4 aircraft by the PIA, the chairman said if members wished to raise the issue, he would not obstruct the move after the committee had gone through its agenda of looking into the matters of the defence production division.
Clarification
ISLAMABAD, Jan 11: In reference to the news item "Senate body empowered to probe deals" (Jan 11) which was based on remarks made by Mr Nisar Memon, chairman of the Senate's standing committee on defence, PIA has said that Senator Rukhsana Zuberi visited PIA last week, and was conducted by PIA's director.
She was shown all the relevant papers and all the queries raised by her were answered. In a press release, PIA said it had no hesitation in providing any information to any member of the Senate committee or answer any query raised. As for the sale of the Airbus A300B4 and Boeing 747-200, the PIA press release said all requirements of transparent procedures were being followed.
