ISLAMABAD: Parliamentarians have taken offence to a letter written by a senior official of the Cabinet Division leading to an official of the department in question to offer an unconditional apology to members of parliament.

Last year in December, PPP Senator Sehar Kamran had moved a resolution recommending that the government lay all international conventions, treaties, covenants, commitments and agreements signed or ratified by the Pakistani government before both houses of parliament. The resolution was moved unanimously, secretary Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges Mohammad Anwar told Dawn.

“However, a joint secretary of Cabinet Division, Dr Iram A. Khan, wrote a letter to parliament in which he said that the honourable house is requested to reconsider its recommendation,” Mr Anwar said.

The matter was taken up during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges on Monday during which a senior official of the Cabinet Division offered an unconditional apology which the chairman of the committee, Dr Jehanzeb Jamldini, accepted. He also directed the Cabinet Division to look into the matter seriously as this was the second time the same officer had suggested that parliament reconsider its recommendations.

Dr Jamaldini said the committee had received 10 similar complaints the majority of which are regarding Cabinet Division.

“You should be careful in your correspondence with the parliament. In this particular case, Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani has taken notice and directed that the case be moved to the privilege committee. Such incidents should not be repeated,” he said.

“We suggest that ministries should be very careful about the parliament. Why the Cabinet Division writes such letters every time? It should be looked into and addressed,” he said.

Committee Secretary Mohammad Anwar said it was strange that a letter signed by the same joint secretary and making the same suggestion in the past also came to parliament and a privilege motion was moved. The matter was disposed of but once again, the same officer has written a similar letter.

Secretary Cabinet Division Sohail Aamir said this was the most polite bureaucratic way to convey that a direction will be difficult to implement.

“This kind of language is frequently used and so [it was used in the letter] sent to parliament. However, if parliamentarians are hurt, I seek an unconditional apology. Moreover, I will write letters to all the ministries and ask them to be careful when writing letters to parliament,” Mr Aamir said.

Discussing the privilege motion moved by Senator Azam Khan Swati, Secretary Housing and Works Babar Hassan informed the committee that a number of times, Mr Swati was provided with documents and that he asks for more documents every time.

Mr Swati moved a privilege motion regarding the non-provision of documents related to development work being carried out in NA-21 since 2013 by Pak-PWD Hazara Division.

Mr Hassan asked the committee that Mr Swati be requested to demand all the documents from PWD at once.

However, Senator Swati was not present in the meeting and the committee was informed he was busy due to the upcoming Senate elections.

Dr Jamaldini directed for Mr Swati to be requested to attend the committee meeting on Feb 26 for half an hour so the matter can be disposed of.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018