Senate session again marred by ongoing Chaudhry-Mushahidullah spat

Nadir Guramani Published October 10, 2018

Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry speaking on the Senate floor — File

Yet another session of the Senate was disrupted on Wednesday because of the running spat between Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry and PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan.

The episode was the latest in a series of arguments between the two triggered after Chaudhry targeted Mushahidullah on the floor of the National Assembly, accusing him of getting members of his family inducted into lucrative posts in the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) using latter's political clout.

A similar episode had taken place last week when the minister took the floor to 'explain' the remarks he had made in the National Assembly. Before he could offer the 'explanation', however, he was told by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and the PML-N senator to apologise.

When Chaudhry dodged the request, the Senate witnessed the unprecedented scene of a federal minister being asked to leave the upper house.

Today, as Chaudhry took the floor of the Senate again, Mushahidullah was quick to ask him to tender an apology.

To this, the information minister said that he would not apologise as the matter was being investigated by the Federal Investigation Agency.

"Then let the inquiry end before you come to parliament," retorted Mushahidullah.

"Senator Mushahidullah's whole family is in the PIA. There is no way I will apologise for what I said. I still stand by it," the information minister snapped back.

"If he manages to find six people from my family who are part of PIA, I will resign from my position," Mushahidullah replied, adding that if the information minister fails, he should be the one to resign from his position.

As the back and forth between the minister and the senator continued, Senator Raza Rabbani, the former chairman of the house, took the floor and said that the behaviour shown by both sides was unprecedented and unbecoming.

"I have been in the Senate for 26 years; never have I witnessed such an environment [in all that time]," he said.

"Such an environment has been created that Senate proceedings have to be postponed. In such circumstances, you [the Speaker] should exercise your authority," he continued.

Senator Rabbani also pointed out that the Senate chairman's ruling cannot be challenged.

Later, the Senate chairman managed to broker a tentative truce between the two sides. However, soon after that, Chaudhry issued what was allegedly a list of all the 'members' of Senator Mushahidullah's family who are currently employed by the PIA.

The two were back at it when the proceedings resumed.

Mushahidullah later complained that PM Imran Khan had “hurled threats during his press conference”.

The PML-N president was humiliated, he [Shahbaz] was summoned in one case but then arrested in a different case altogether, the senator said.

He said that many references are pending against the sitting ministers as well, yet no action was taken on them.

The senator demanded that Shahbaz should be released immediately and that he "should be praised for his services".

Pakistan

Nadir Guramani is a journalist and anchorperson for Dawn News (TV) with 17 years of experience. His reporting covers parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, politics, climate change, and human rights. He can be found on X at @nguramani.

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Anti-corruption_Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 05:54pm

Fawad Chaudhry and PTI are becoming embarrassment for Pakistan.

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Sincere Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 05:59pm

I saw the battle btw those two, it look out Federal Minister has to show more restrain/etiquette here he was crossing limits.. Yes He is accusing Mushahid, but the hiring of his relative were done back in 1977-88 and Mushahid has joined PML-N in 90s with NS lalso came into actual power after 90s. He along with his relatives were in PIA till 1997(at max) and PIA was profit earning organization till late 90s. It's really make no sense to blame Mushahid ullah for PIA mess in last 19 years(hardly their fault if any will be equal to salt in flour).

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Ajmal Milan

Oct 10, 2018 06:12pm

People like Mushahid they are the biggest beneficiaries of the cronyism and nepotism who plundered national exchequer. PTI must come hard against corrupt politicians of PMLN and PPP

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Bill

Oct 10, 2018 06:18pm

Chaudhry targeted Mushahidullah on the floor of the National Assembly, accusing him of getting members of his family inducted into lucrative posts in the Pakistan International Airline (PIA) using latter's political clout. .. Then it is Mister Mushahidulllah whose family is responsible for running the PIA so poorly. The truth hurts. He obviously did use his influence.

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Dr Haroon

Oct 10, 2018 06:20pm

Personal egos.

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Umer

Oct 10, 2018 06:24pm

@Anti-corruption_Pakistani No, they are not, they are calling a spade a spade. Mushahidullah used his influence to recruit and promote his family in PIA. All Govt owned institutions are in losses some closed(Steel mill) in N-league's tenure. So please, if anything, PTI has put a right person as information minister who can tell the big mouths like Mushahidullah on their face what have they done to our Dear country.

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F Khan

Oct 10, 2018 06:24pm

Fawad is the the last person you would want to represent your government as information minister.

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IQBAL HADI ZAIDI

Oct 10, 2018 06:41pm

I regret as well as wonder as to why and how the two equally responsible persons namely Ch Fawad and Mushahidullah Khan cannot come to terms instead of spoiling the senate atmosphere. Offhand I can say that Mushahid must have some relatives in PIA but perhaps not all on high positions as alleged by Ch and instead they could be a combination of both senior and junior employees. It is a hard fact that most of us wen in power misuse the authority so from that angle Mushahid may also have followed his boss Nawaz Sharif who inducted his close relative Ishaq Dar none but as finance minister and hence our national exchequer took the brunt. I think since Mushahid is not allowing Ch to expose him in the senate Ch should print the name of Mushahid relatives in PIA employment and place the lists at each senator seat or alternatively he gets them flashed in newspapers and tv news to square it up. Senate sessions cannot be marred alike. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

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Life

Oct 10, 2018 06:45pm

This is how the government will run for next five years?

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waqas

Oct 10, 2018 07:05pm

Shame the corrupt mafia of PML and PPP in public. Nepotism can't go on for ever.

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Pakistan deserves better

Oct 10, 2018 07:17pm

If PLM-N are not thieves why are they worried? The total annihilation of depts and rabid nepotism will be brought before the people soon. PLM-N tried their best to destroy Pakistan and almost succeeded

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Asif A. Shah

Oct 10, 2018 07:26pm

The people who are guilty of cronyism and nepotism must be exposed. We want people to get their jobs on merits and perform their duties efficiently and courteously.

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NACParis

Oct 10, 2018 07:27pm

@Dr Haroon Truth always hurt. Fawad is not an egoist but is right, Mushahid is egoist and nobody had ever questioned him because he had been part of the corrupt ruling elite. Apart from NY and London his relative is a an airport manager in Paris since last couple of years.

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Taimur

Oct 10, 2018 07:29pm

Go fawad Chaudhry go, you are right, do not now down to hopeless ppl like mushahidullah

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Abdullah

Oct 10, 2018 07:35pm

MashaAllah Fawad Saab, keep at it! Expose all these looters and their corruption.

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Humayun Majid

Oct 10, 2018 07:41pm

@Sincere Pakistan...i May be but all subsequent promotions were done while PML N in power.

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Harmony-1©

Oct 10, 2018 07:59pm

@NACParis - Well said.

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M. asghar

Oct 10, 2018 08:15pm

Somebody has to bring out the truth about these persons for the public, and the this minister is just doing this!

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Dr.M.S.Awan

Oct 10, 2018 08:18pm

Senate is an upper house and a dignified forum.Its sanctity must be upheld.Debates can take place but in polite terms.Government and opposition can expose each others misdeeds in nicely worded statements.I find English language very useful in conveying my angry remarks/comments.

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M1 Jamal

Oct 10, 2018 08:38pm

NS and Zardari illegally inducted their cronies relatives and nearones in PIAC,Steel Mill,FBR,FIA,EOBI and all other government and semi government offices and the result of institutional failures are evident. The beneficiaries like Mushidullah will never admit that one non merit posting can destroy any institution.PTI government must immediately review and remove all these non professionals from the present posting so that country can move forward.

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Ahsan Gul

Oct 10, 2018 08:45pm

Pakistan is in dire state of economic destruction done by the previous government. Foreign exchange is at the lowest level. Institutions are full with the incompetent employees who have no clue about their work. Thais senator Chaudhry Fawad is pointing out dirty business PML-N has done to plant their favorite incompetent people to those jobs. SO WHAT IS WRONG if Chaudhry FAWAD is bring up in the parliament? Let not Mushid should not forget that we the public has put him get elected. We the public demands full accountability and justice of any politicians assets and income sources. Respectfully

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An Alternate View

Oct 10, 2018 08:57pm

@Ajmal Milan Now that PTI is in the government, instead of hurling accusation they should investigate the matter and bring the culprit to justice.

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Leoman

Oct 10, 2018 09:21pm

Tragically, almost all people like hiddenly or openly lawlessness in all matters. This is specially true in case of getting jobsane particularly lucrative jobs. Whether Fawad is true or not but this is true that PIA employment is such a difficulty for ordinary people unless one is lucky to have someone very high in position to recommend him. Even if he of she has required qualifications, degrees, and experience. Unfortunately, this matter is never sorted and settled. Such people must be exposed and punished whosever they're.

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Ahsan Gul

Oct 10, 2018 09:23pm

@Dr.M.S.Awan - good suggestions to use English to convey your messages but how you know that these senators understand that? Majority of these parliamentarians have just minimal education and are totally incompetent.

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Crusoe

Oct 10, 2018 09:23pm

@Sincere Pakistani Such a sugar coated comment, we are talking of a country where the distant relatives of a patwari can do people a lot of favors and you are saying that it’s a coincidence that 3-4 people of a same family got hired into a same institution. No bounds mate no bounds!

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Jay

Oct 10, 2018 09:56pm

@ajmal Milan. Did you read the comments of Sincere Pakistani. Please see the facts first and then comment. If you don't know the favs then please restrain for such remarks. I agree to accountability but it should be across the board not just one party.

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Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 10:29pm

Fawd owes no apology to Mushahid. First Mushahid must apologize to the nation and must answer all the allegations against him. If the senator is so sensitive that if anybody points out his wrongdoings, he feels offended, he is not fit to be a senator. Instead he needs to feel ashamed and be out there to respond to the allegations, not try to tell the accuser not to level them against him. Two, it is not his call to ask the minister to leave the chamber. It is the senate's speakers call. If he can't stand Fawad's truth-fullness, then he is more than welcome to leave the senate floor, ideally permanently.

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Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 10:32pm

Thank you Fawad sahab for doing a great job. These looters must be exposed and told the truth to their faces; no matter how much they cry and get angry. Truth always hurts.

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Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 10:33pm

"I have been in the Senate for 26 years; never have I witnessed such an environment [in all that time]," he said." Ofcourse, it was always "mukmuka" up till now.

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Pakistani

Oct 10, 2018 10:35pm

"The senator demanded that Shahbaz should be released immediately and that he "should be praised for his services"." He forgot to add - ... to his family and friends.

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Khan

Oct 10, 2018 10:36pm

remove Fawad he does not deserve to be in cabinet

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Lahori kid

Oct 10, 2018 10:40pm

I think its important that the information minister remain within his authority, he should let the law and appropriate authorities and the courts worry about the on going cases, he has no business confronting a minister, Chaudhry's js an information minister, he has no right to stand during the Senate proceedings and accuse someone. PM Khan needs to step in and get this guy to back off.

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Lahori kid

Oct 10, 2018 10:43pm

@Sincere Pakistani He wasn't blaming Mushahid for PIA's failure to be fair, he was talking about getting all his relatives jobs at the airline

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Reality

Oct 10, 2018 10:51pm

So we should praise Shahbaz Shariff for looting the country and allowing misappropriation of public moneys?

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AHAQ

Oct 10, 2018 11:08pm

@IQBAL HADI ZAIDI - This should not happen any more and all appointments whether high position or low position should be judged and based on Merits of the job under consideration. I remember when I was overseas in a developed country, one of my student colleague's father was a general manager of a factory. He told me that his father refused to hire him because his father did not want to give an impression to the investors in the company that there was any kind nepotism being practiced. That is the kind of standards we want in Pakistan to really become a progressive nation.

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Zulfiqar

Oct 10, 2018 11:36pm

Fawad chaudary is absolutely the right person for this job as he’ll keep keep the opposition I check and fight fire with fire. It may seem he goes overboard but the previous government. Went overboard on their corrupt practices so they are easily offended when reminded of it.

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Parvez

Oct 11, 2018 12:00am

Mushahidullah has plyed the Chaudhry .....and that too with a straight face. The PTI has much to learn and learning on the job is not an option.

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Dr.Khan

Oct 11, 2018 12:03am

I am a doctor. At my early days of career, a renowned public hospital in Lahore got a Professor appointed, all due to his personal links. 4 months in post, and we saw patients dying, equal to 12 months. 3 times rise in mortality. The Professor left afterwards. But those ppl lost their lives. Regardless of Fawad and Mushahidullah spat, just imagine, how many of such appointments are made in Pakistan on political grounds. I am worried, the way Sincere Pakistani has portrayed the casual attitude towards political appointments. Hope it stops happening.

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khalid

Oct 11, 2018 12:04am

@Ajmal Milan those CORRUPT politicians are now part of PTI

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Sincere Pakistani

Oct 11, 2018 12:30am

@Crusoe who is saying its coincidence?For me it is non issue putting the blame on mushahid ullah for pia losses it makes absolutely no sense,his brothers were not in any senior position to have any real impact in pia financials.rest of point I already explained in my earlier comments.the real cuplrits were ppp who settled thousands of their followers in different deptt of pia with making very strong union.

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JA-Australia

Oct 11, 2018 01:29am

How many times does FC have to apologize? Mushahidullah should be fired for wasting taxpayer money. He is paid a salary to do the people's work, not waste time on personal tantrums. Again and again and again, tnis personal induldence of his on the taxpayer's dime is getting ridiculous.

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Ali

Oct 11, 2018 01:48am

Goon league can only be handled by people like Fawad Chaudhry

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Javed

Oct 11, 2018 01:49am

Fawad Chaudhry. This cheapskate needs to go!!

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Javed

Oct 11, 2018 02:04am

@Ajmal Milan Fawad is a cheapskate, please don't go off topic here.

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Sameer

Oct 11, 2018 03:10am

@Anti-corruption_Pakistani and non board promotions and appointments of Mushahid's 2 brothers isnt? What secrets of merit does this family hold that not one in my entire family could make it in to PIA and yet his entire family could.

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Alla Bux

Oct 11, 2018 03:29am

Power got to the head of this (dis)Information Minister.

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zak

Oct 11, 2018 04:06am

Pk, so he has lost it. Its like praising Al capone. ‘The senator demanded that Shahbaz should be released immediately and that he "should be praised for his services".

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zak

Oct 11, 2018 04:06am

‘However, soon after that, Chaudhry issued what was allegedly a list of all the 'members' of Senator Mushahidullah's family who are currently employed by the PIA.“ Should Mushaidullah not resign now.

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Nadeem

Oct 11, 2018 04:24am

Adolescent behavior all around!

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Yawar

Oct 11, 2018 07:31am

How can an overstaffed airline like PIA compete against other airlines of the world? It is time for all PML-N and PPP bhartis to be exposed and removed.

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