ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: The Senate on Tuesday witnessed an uproar during the dying moments of the question-hour when the opposition senators criticized the nomination of retired armed forces persons as members of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan tried to defend their appointment.

The issue came under discussion when Dr Afgan, in response to a question of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) Senator Dr Ismail Buledi, told the house that president of the country was authorized to appoint members of the FPSC according to the criteria laid down in Sub-section-4 of Section-3 of the FPSC Ordinance 1977.

The minister also provided the names of the present FPSC members and chairman with their academic qualifications and details of domicile.

The opposition senators protested over the fact that out of the six FPSC members three were retired military men including its chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Shahid Hamid. The two other members from the armed forces are Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Abdul Ahad Najmi and Rear Admiral (retd) Mohammad Nashat Rafi.

According to the reply given by the minister, Lt-Gen (retd) Shahid Hamid has done MSc in War Studies, Rear Admiral (retd) Mohammad Nashat has done MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies and Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Abdul Ahad has passed MSc, MBBS, FCPS (Honours) and FCBS (Honours).

Other three members of the FPSC are Dr Mutawakil Qazi (PhD Economics), Mohammad Aziz Khan (MA Political Science, LLB) and Saiyed Mohib Shah (MA Criminology, LLB).

Upon this reply, opposition senators questioned the logic behind appointing retired army men as FPSC members. Dr Safdar Abbasi of the People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) said that first, they enjoy army service and after retirement become members of the FPSC, which was unfair.

Dr Afgan again took the floor and said the opposition members should know that many would leaders were from the army. Dr Safdar Abbasi said that those people were elected people. Dr Afgan again took the floor and said that he could give more names in this regard. At the same time, Dr Safdar Abbasi and other opposition members stood up and shouted at the minister.

At this point, Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro announced end of the question-hour.