ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party has asked National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to restrict retired Capt Muhammad Safdar from adjudicating an allegation against him (Capt Safdar) that he gave Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Rs50 million over the Faizabad sit-in.

In a letter to the speaker, MNA Shazia Marri has asked how an MNA could convene the meeting when the agenda item was clearly related to an allegation against him and it was a blatant example of conflict of interest.

The letter is available with Dawn.

It is worth noting here that the meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has been scheduled for Dec 11 at Parliament House.

The notice of the meeting, which has five agenda points shows that one of the points includes a briefing/discussion on alleged videotape which shows the supply of Rs50m to the Faizabad sit-in leaders by Mr Safdar. It is also mentioned that the meeting of the standing committee will be chaired by Mr Safdar.

In the letter MNA Marri, who is also a member of the committee, has said that she wants to lodge her protest against conflict of interest as the person who has been facing the allegation will chair the meeting in which the matter against him will be discussed.

“I fail to understand how an MNA can convene the meeting when the agenda item is clearly related to an allegation against him? This is a blatant example of conflict of interest, which sadly is not being realised. For more information, the notice for this meeting is a revised one that was issued on the 6th of December, 2017, while the earlier notice was issued on the 30th of November, 2017, where the agenda did not bear the item mentioned above,” she has stated in the letter.

“Therefore, I request you to kindly intervene in order to ensure that the person being alleged of an offence is not allowed to act as judge in his own case. Your cooperation would be highly appreciated,” she said.

Supporters of a religious group in November reached Islamabad and held a sit-in at Faizabad interchange. They announced that they will not disperse unless then law minister Zahid Hamid resigned. On Nov 25 the district administration tried to remove them by using force but the operation badly failed as a large number of officials of law enforcement agencies were injured. After that the law minister had to resign and protesters were dispersed.

However, a video circulating on social media appears to show Mr Safdar, who is a son-in-law of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, supplying Rs50m to the sit-in leaders.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2017