ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: President Pervez Musharraf who undertook a 10-day visit to European countries recently cost heavily to the national exchequer when he stayed in London for three days at the last leg of his visit.

Senator Azam Swati of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal informed Senate through a point of order on Thursday that the hotel the president stayed in charged Rs6.30 million for three nights — 17,000 pounds sterling per night (Rs2.10 million).

The president had stayed in London for two days without any official engagement and returned home after meeting British prime minister Gordon Brown on the last day of his stay.

Senator Enver Baig of PPP informed the upper house that a number of former ministers who have lost elections were still in possession of official bulletproof cars and police squads stressing that the government should retrieve these facilities from them.

Senator Saadia Abbasi of the PML-N pointed out that the caretaker government has appointed Mubashir Lucman, caretaker Punjab minister as adviser to Information Ministry against huge salary package, adding that it was against the mandate of the caretakers to make such key appointments.

Caretaker Minister for Information Nisar A. Memon defended the appointment but the presiding officer agreed with the suggestion that the matter be referred to the house committee for report.

Interestingly, the presiding officer Dr Abdul Malik who chaired the entire session of the upper house agreed to send almost all the issues to the standing committees which were raised by members through point of orders.

Senator Ismail Buledi through a point of order said that the flood affected people of Balochistan had not been paid any compensation even after a lapse of one year.

He also agitated what he termed ignoring the promotions of officials from his province.

The presiding officer said that Wapda had committed huge irregularities in Mirani dam and ordered sending the issue to the standing committee on water and power.

The chair also directed to maintain provincial quota in Jinnah Hospital, Karachi on the point of order of Senator Rehmatullah Kakar that promotion of a certain official from Balochistan was being impeded.

Abbas Komaili of MQM pointed out that the heirs of 44 dead and many injured in Parachinar blast had nor been paid compensation so far and demanded immediate action.

On Liaqat Bangulzai’s instance the chair sent the issue of ignoring an engineer Waqar Shirani in promotion in PIA to house defence committee.