ISLAMABAD Feb 15: A senior PML(QA) leader and former federal minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Friday forced his way in Ad hoc Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, but failed to get reverse order for the recovery of excess telephone and vehicle expenses against him.

He exchanged harsh arguments with the PAC Chairman HU Beg, and members, particularly, Lt-Gen Talat Masood (Rtd) as the committee had outrightly rejected his plea to seek excuse on its decision.

The PAC had ordered the recovery of excessive expenditures, incurred on use of unauthorised telephone and a FIA vehicle, from Chaudhry Shujaat.

Mr Shujaat sought removal of the derogatory remarks reportedly used by the committee during the proceedings claiming that some of the participants had termed the so called excessive expenses as shameful act.

Absolving himself of involvement in excessive telephone bill, he said he had held additional charge of ministry of labour for only four months without even entering its offices. Similarly, he claimed he had never used any vehicle as minister, and the allegation that he used an FIA vehicle was baseless.

Mr Baig told Mr Shujaat that the committee was neither repenting nor it would reverse the decision as it had been taken on merits of the case placed before the body by the auditor general’s office.

Chaudhri Shujaat, who accompanied with his party leaders and a couple of journalists, tried to overwhelm the committee by repeatedly saying: “You have announced punishment without hearing me, in a wrong case”.

PML leader also quarrelled with Mr Masood when the latter told him that the committee would never reverse its decision on his pleading. He said:”You are a retired army man, and hence you are adamant to my request being a politician”.

But Mr Masood assured Shujaat Hussain that if the PAC found in review that the decision was wrong then it would consider to annul it. He said, since the vehicle in our view was misused we decided for the recovery of excessive expenditures without considering that who was the culprit.

In the meanwhile, National Assembly Secretariat director public relations has issued the following statement:

“I am directed to say that while the meeting of the Ad hoc Public Accounts Committee was in session, considering the cases relating to Islamabad capital territory, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Ex-Federal Minister along with 8 to 10 people including members of the Press and photographers walked unannounced into the ongoing meeting. The session was interrupted, and he insisted on an immediate hearing.

The night before he had telephoned PAC Chairman HU Beg at his residence about the misuse of telephone and transport by his staff and him as reported in the Press.

Mr Beg advised him that if he had any complaint about the Press reporting or the veracity of the audit report, he was free to go to the Press, and also make a representation in writing to the PAC so that the matter could be reviewed, if necessary.

Mr Shujaat demanded an apology from the committee. The chairman categorically told him that the PAC would not extend any apologies as the recommendation of the committee were based on the facts presented to it by the ministry concerned.

Shujaat Hussain accused the Ad hoc PAC of being partial towards the armed forces and civil bureaucracy.

He was clearly informed that the decisions of the committee were based on an unbiased and impartial hearing consideration of all cases relating to all parties concerned there with, and decisions are taken on merit as well as facts represented before it.

Shujaat Hussain gave a letter to the committee about the matter. The chairman informed him that the letter would be considered by the PAC, and he might be asked to appear for hearing, if considered necessary.”