March 08, 2007	Thursday	Safar 18, 1428

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ISLAMABAD, March 7: The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Wednesday took strong exception to the absence of Federal Minister and Minister of State for Interior as well as Minister for States and Frontier regions from the meeting.

Senators Asfand Yar Wali and Raza Rabbani said that their absence shows scant respect for the House and its committees. They said that supremacy of Parliament was of paramount importance and must be maintained at all costs.

According to a press release, the Senate committee meeting, presided over by Senator Col (retired) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, also considered the privilege motions moved by Senator Abdul Raziq, Senator Mohammad Hussain and Senator Ms Sadia Abbasi.

Senator Tahir said the privilege of the members of the Parliament constitutes the privilege of the House and any breach thereof must be viewed seriously for upholding the honour and dignity of the elected Parliament, which represented the will of the people of Pakistan.

The Committee disposed of the privilege motion moved by Senator Abdul Raziq and Senator Syed Muhammad Hussain as individuals responsible for the breach of privilege had tendered unconditional apologies. The apologies were accepted by the senators (movers) of the respective privilege motions.

The Committee also disposed of the Privilege Motion moved by Senators Hameedullah Jan Afridi, Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri, Mr Abdul Raziq and Engr. Rashid Ahmad Khan on the question of breach of privilege.

In case of the privilege motion moved by Senator Ms Saadia Abbasi, the Committee directed the Secretary, Ministry of Interior to conduct an inquiry into raid and search by the police party at the mover’s residence. It was asked to submit detailed report on the matter to the Committee in the next meeting.

The Secretary Interior constituted a 2-member committee comprising Additional Secretary, Ministry of Interior and the Chief Commissioner, Islamabad to hold a thorough and impartial inquiry into the matter and present the report positively to him to be considered in the next meeting.

He assured the Committee that complete and comprehensive report of the incident will be submitted to the committee in the next meeting.