ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence on Monday rejected a bill proposing a military-run medical university be brought under the purview of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC).

“I wanted to empower the PMDC by bringing the National University of Medical Sciences (Nums) under its purview which most members of the committee, and the council, were hesitating to do since it is a military run organisation,” said the mover of the bill, PPP’s Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, while talking to Dawn.

The bill titled ‘The National University of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2016’, which was passed by the upper house, said there was no mention of the PMDC in the university’s charter and suggested the council should have the powers for looking into the medical university’s issues and that the university’s charter be amended.

At the start of the committee’s meeting, Dr Pechuho said it will not be possible for the PMDC to implement its decisions on the university if its charter does not mention the PMDC.

Council is the only controlling body for medical institutions, says PMDC president

The chairman of the committee, Sheikh Rohale Asghar said he had come to know that the Senate committee had not invited the PMDC and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) which is why he had invited their representatives to get their input.

PMDC President Dr Shabir Lehri said it does not make a difference if the PMDC is mentioned in the university’s charter.

“We are empowered to make visits and take decisions about the university and institutions affiliated with it. The PMDC is the only controlling authority for medical institutions and we do not have a problem with it,” he said.

HEC Executive Director Prof Dr Arshad Ali said when a university or institute is established, a team of experts is constituted to look into it and ascertain there are no deficiencies.

Members of the committee including the Pakistan Muslim League Zia-ul-Haq’s Ijazul Haq, PPP’s Syed Mustafa Mehmood, MQM’s Kishwer Zehra and Sanjay Perwani and others also suggested the bill be rejected and taking their views into account, the chair announced the bill was rejected.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Pechuhu said she had wanted to strengthen the council but could not do anything if all stakeholders would not take a stand.

Nums is a military run organisation and institutions such as Army Medical College, Armed Forces Post Graduated Medical Institute, College of Nursing and the Army College of Veterinary Sciences are affiliated with this university.

The Need for a Foreign Affairs Minister

During the meeting, MQM’s Kishwer Zehra discussed the need for having a fulltime foreign minister, arguing that it has become difficult to understand the answers given by the advisor to the prime minister on foreign affairs.

Chairman of the committee Sheikh Rohale Asghar intervened and said that the government faces criticism when ministers are appointed with some saying the cabinet is too large and also when ministers are not appointed.

“Luckily some of the members are not here or there would be a long round of criticism. We will discuss the issue after the meeting,” he said,

Talking to Dawn, Ms Zehra said it is now almost impossible to understand the answers given by the advisor for foreign affairs during proceedings of the house.

“There are so many border related issues and we need regular briefings for which there should be a foreign minister,” she said.

Some members including Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Dr Shireen Mazari and Shafqat Mehmood did not attend Monday’s meeting of the committee.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2017