ISLAMABAD: Treasury mem­­bers on Monday protes­ted the attitude of some ministers and behaviour of bur­eaucracy towards the parliament, its committees and members, accusing bureaucrats of receiving kickbacks.

The members also protested over the absence of ministers and senior officers from the house proceedings despite repeated warnings and directives by the chair.

While highlighting the issue, the members named Federal Minister for Higher Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer, Aviation Minister Saad Rafique and Adviser on Tourism Aoun Chaudhry for allegedly defying the recommendations made by the special committee of the parliament, which was constituted to look into the issue of contractual and sacked government employees.

Speaking on a point of order, Chairman of the Spe­cial Com­mi­ttee on the Affected Emplo­yees Qadir Khan Mandokhail alleged the aviation minister had han­d­­ed over the fate of 2,600 employees to contractors, while Rana Tanvir and Saad Rafique had directed officials not to pay heed to committee directives.

PML-N legislator Sheikh Ro­­h­ale Asghar also protested over ministers’ absence. “Look at the seriousness. There is no one here to hear us,” he remarked. He also criticised the speaker for not issuing production order of MNA Ali Wazir, stating that this shows “powerlessness” of this house. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Abbasi suggested the speaker call a meeting of the chairmen of all the NA committees.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2023