ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Thursday disposed of three cases of privileges motions, two of which were settled outside of the committee and while one was settled within.

A previous meeting on Aug 6 had been postponed by committee chairman Senator Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel because of the absence of the interior minister and the interior and parliamentary affairs secretaries. The decision to postpone was made on a suggestion from Senator Mian Raza Rabbani, who said there was no reason to continue in the absence of the heads of the concerned ministries.

Senator Musakhel had said it was unfortunate that some elements were not allowing parliament to perform and announced that the matter would be discussed with other members to take appropriate action against those who did not attend the meeting. He also said the bureaucracy had to give parliamentary proceedings top priority.

The committee on Thursday forgave the interior and parliamentary affairs secretaries after they tendered unconditional apologies. Senator Rabbani could not attend the committee meeting on Thursday, when both secretaries apologised and said such actions would not be repeated in the future.

Two cases were settled outside the committee on procedures and privileges, one was settled within

Senator Musakhel said bureaucrats should be aware that a lot of money is spent from the exchequer on parliamentary committee meetings.

“Moreover, parliamentarians remain busier than bureaucrats. If we can spare time for the meeting, why can’t the bureaucrats? Next time, if bureaucrats have any other engagement, they should inform the committee secretary in advance so parliamentarians’ precious time is not wasted,” he said.

He said ministries should ensure that only ministers or secretaries attend standing committee meetings, and additional secretaries should be sent in case of an emergency.

“Our time should not be wasted by sending officers lower than the rank of additional secretary, as it is nothing by a waste of time because they are not empowered to say anything with authority,” Senator Musakhel said.

The committee had taken up a privilege motion moved by Senator Mohsin Aziz, who claimed that a security official deputed on the route of the prime minister’s convoy at 8pm on March 9 misbehaved with him while he was walking on a track parallel to Margalla Road in F-6/3.

However, the committee secretary said he had a written letter from Senator Aziz in which he said security officials met with him and assured him they would not disturb people and make them face away from the convoy.

The other privilege motion was moved by Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini against the Balochistan Construction and Works Department. Senator Musakhel said an agreement was made in his presence, and the matter should thus be considered settled.

The committee also had to discuss the adoption of a committee report on a privilege motion moved by Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Swati on April 10 regarding the failure of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to provide a copy of a new bill the government was supposed to introduce and respond to Senator Swati’s phone calls.

The committee secretary said PSQCA representatives had apologised and provided all the records to the senator, so he wanted to withdraw the motion. However, he said, since a privilege motion once moved becomes property of the house a report should be sent to the house saying that the movers did not want to press the motion and the issues should be disposed of.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2018