7, April 2005	Thursday	27 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 6: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges considered here on Wednesday four privilege motions of the MNAs pertaining to the information ministry, PIA, and misbehaviour of officials at the Parliament House. The privilege motions were moved by MNAs Sardar Saleem Jan Mazari, Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokar, Dr Nisar Ahmad and Fazle Subhan.

The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dreshak, unanimously expressed its displeasure on the absence of the secretary, Ministry of Information, from the meeting since he was directed to attend the meeting in person in connection with the privilege motion moved by MNA Dr Nisar Ahmad regarding refusal of the PTV to cover and telecast proceedings of the meeting of the Standing Committee on Narcotics Control held on Nov 2, 2004.

The committee deferred the discussion on the privilege motion and directed the secretary information to attend the next meeting of the committee in person along with managing director and director (News) PTV.

While discussing the privilege motion of MNA Sardar Saleem Jan Mazari regarding alleged refusal by the district manager, PIA, Islamabad, to issue nine fresh tickets in lieu of stolen tickets already issued on August 17, 2004, the committee observed that PIA was duty-bound to issue tickets in lieu of the stolen tickets, against which a report had been lodged with the police.

Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dreshak termed it sheer negligence on the part of the PIA management and in conflict with corporate policies adopted by the national-flag carrier. He wondered if a legislator had to face such problems then what would the common citizens be facing.

He directed the PIA to adopt a cooperative attitude towards its customers.

The committee disposed of the privilege motion of MNA Malik Zaheer Abbas Khokar regarding abusive language used by the medical superintendent, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, on accepting his unconditional apology. However, the chairman directed the secretary, health department, Punjab, to circulate instructions to all departments under his administrative control to extend courtesy to the public and their representatives.

Later, the committee discussed and disposed of the privilege motion of MNA Fazle Subhan regarding alleged misbehaviour by the AD, passports, Swat. The additional secretary, ministry of interior, informed the committee that the official concerned had been transferred and an inquiry had been ordered against him, which would be completed in due course of time, and its findings would be submitted to the committee.

The meeting was attended by the federal minister for parliamentary affairs, Sher Afgan Niazi; Raza Hayat Hiraj, Makhdoom Ahmad Alam Anwar, Zulfiqar Ali Gondal, Syed Naveed Qamar, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich, Riaz Ahmad Pirzada, Mrs Zeb Gohar Ayub, Begum Shahnaz Sheikh, Ghulam Ali Nizamani, Chaudhry Imranullah Advocate, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Khwaja Mohammad Asif and Kunwar Khalid Younis besides the movers of the motions.