ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday defended the placement of five regulatory authorities under the administrative control of line ministries without taking the matter to the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

Speaking in the Senate, Law Minister Zahid Hamid claimed that the regulatory authorities had been handed over to the ministries concerned under the rules and the constitutional powers of the government and the decision was in line with judgements of courts. He was of the view that the transfer had in no way affected the financial, administrative or functional autonomy of the authorities.

The minister said neither the powers of the regulators had been curtailed, nor the government’s powers enhanced by the decision. He pointed out that the opinion of the CCI had never been sought in the past for transfer of regulatory authorities’ control. He said the regulatory authorities had been placed under the Cabinet Division and ministries through the executive order in the past.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani pointed out that the issue of placement of regulatory authorities under the relevant ministries’ control was there on the initial agenda of the CCI, but was removed from the final agenda. Mr Hamid replied that the reason for this was that the CCI’s opinion was not required and it was within the powers of the executive.

Answering a question posed by the chair, the minister said the secretary cabinet had opposed the move to place the regulatory authorities under the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination and not their placement under the relevant ministries.

The Senate chairman observed that apparently the cabinet secretary could not have two different views about the ministry of IPC and the other ministries.

Mr Rabbani said he would give a ruling on the legal aspects of handing over the control of the regulatory authorities to the ministries concerned. The law minister said that in his view a ruling was not required as the matter had been referred by the chair to the Senate Committee on Devolution.

The chairman, however, insisted that a ruling was required. “I will look into your response and give a ruling on the legal aspects,” he said and reserved his ruling.

Walkout

The entire opposition in the Senate staged a walkout from the House as a mark of protest against the inability of the government to respond to a calling attention notice inviting the attention of the government towards the crash of PIA’s ATR plane on Dec 7.

Samina Abid of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was speaking on the calling attention when the Senate chairman stopped her and said that the government had no response to the issue being raised. Four ministers — Zahid Hamid, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Anushe Rehman and Khurram Dastgir — were present in the House at that time, but the law minister conveyed to the Senate secretary that no brief on the issue had been received from the aviation division.

Ms Abid announced staging a walkout over the government’s attitude which was joined by the entire opposition. Parliamentary leader of the PML-N went out to bring the angry opposition back, but failed in his attempt and the opposition stayed away from the proceedings till the end.

The chairman regretted that no one out of the cabinet was available to give a response. He said the ATR fleet had been grounded and goats were being sacrificed for PIA flights’ safety.

He pointed out that the special committee on PIA affairs was also not being provided information. The chairman directed issuance of a notice to the aviation secretary observing that non-provision of the required information had breached privilege of the House.

Trade with India

Responding to another calling attention notice about continuing trade with India despite repeated ceasefire violations by Indian forces, the commerce minister said halting trade with India involved a broad policy question.

He said it was for the government or the parliament to make a decision in this respect. He, however, said Pakistan’s trade with India was only four per cent of India’s total international trade and pointed out that stopping trade between the two countries would have no substantial effect on India. Pakistan imports a variety of raw materials from India which is used in the industry, and such a decision would have a bad impact on the local industry. He, however, said trade with India could be restricted if need be.

The House was prorogued sine die.

Published in Dawn December 24th, 2016