`The PCB top brass will have to appear in front of the privileges committee and explain the reasons of undermining the Senate of Pakistan.` —APP/File photo

ISLAMABAD Responding to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt`s outburst questioning the authority of the Senate Standing Committee on Sports, the senators have decided to exercise their constitutional powers by moving a privilege motion against him.

In a recent media interaction, Ijaz asserted that the Senate committee had no legal authority to interfere in PCB`s administrative affairs.

`The Senate Standing Committee on Sports has no power to interfere in cricket affairs` and that `they can criticise us as much as they like, but they have no powers and can`t give us directions,` Ijaz was quoted as saying.

In a rare show of unity, the committee members coming from different political parities on Thursday moved a privilege motion against PCB chairman and have summoned him for an explanation in person.

Senator Enver Baig, one of the five members who moved the motion, told Dawn `Anybody who challenges the writ of the Parliament will have a very fatal fall.` Senators Enver, Rehana Yahya Baloch, Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, Fauzia Kakkhar and Haroon Khan have moved the privilege motion.

`It is not the question of an individual senator. Therefore the privilege motion was moved by five honourable senators,` Enver stated.

`The PCB top brass will have to appear in front of the privileges committee and explain the reasons of undermining the Senate of Pakistan.`

The PCB has recently faced massive questioning and scrutiny from the committee on hiring and firing, development work at the Gaddafi Stadium and the financial status of the board.

Regarding the Senate Standing Committee, the rules say `Under the Senate rules there shall be a Standing Committee which deals with the business of the Government relating to the Ministry with which is concerned or any other matter referred to it by the Senate.

A committee is also authorised to examine suo moto the expenditures, administration, subordinate legislation, the public petitions and policies of the ministry concerned and its attached public bodies`.

Each committee may appoint sub committees which exercise the powers of the whole committee to examine any subject or matter which may be referred to them.