December 9, 2005	Friday	Ziqa’ad 6, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) MNAs on Thursday criticized the performance of the information ministry and called for constituting a special committee of the National Assembly to look after the ministry’s affairs. During the question hour in the National Assembly, Liaquat Baloch of the MMA said the information ministry was not playing its due role in disseminating information to the public.

Mr Baloch also called for holding a debate on the floor of the House on the performance of the information ministry. He further said the ministry officials were not submitting correct replies to the questions being raised by the MNAs.

The MMA MNA said the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information was not able to play any role as its members had no power to question any person of the ministry. He alleged that Federal Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had an “insulting attitude” towards the committee members, and a privilege motion against the minister was also pending before the House.

Taking the floor, Chairperson of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Rehana Alim Mashhadi said she had sent a summary to the ministry for convening the committee’s meeting, but there was no response from the ministry.

She said earlier the ministry official had told her that they were busy in the arrangements for the donors conference. However, she said, there was complete silence on the side of the ministry even after the donors conference.

Earlier, another MMA MNA Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali said he would soon move a privilege motion against the information minister for making a “misstatement” on the floor of the house.

Maulana Chitrali said the information minister had earlier stated on the floor of the house that FM radio stations would be set up in eight NWFP areas, including Chitral. He said in response to his fresh question on Thursday, the minister had stated that at present there was no proposal of establishing an FM radio station in Chitral.

Responding to the issues raised by the members, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli said she would not be able to make any comment on the issue of the minister’s alleged misconduct in the standing committee.

Ms Tahirkheli, however, said there was no need to constitute a special committee to monitor the activities of the ministry. She said the ministry would always welcome the proposals aimed at improving its working. She asked the chairperson of the standing committee to also invite the minister of state in the committee’s meeting.

The minister said that she was not aware of what the minister had stated earlier on the floor of the house on the issue of opening of new FM radio stations. She said at present there was no government plan to set up FM station in Chitral. She, however, said if any private party was interested in establishing FM station, the government could consider it.

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