ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior was informed on Tuesday that the shortage of gas might worsen in winter because there was no possibility of additional gas coming into the system over the next two years.
Senior officials of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) told the committee that load management was being carried out only in Punjab.The meeting presided over by Senator Talha Mehmood called for an inquiry into allegations that a senior SNGPL official owns a number of CNG stations and provides gas connections to housing societies in exchange of plots.
The committee directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to complete inquiries against the SNGPL and PIA as soon as possible.
It observed that the national flag carrier was facing a financial crisis because of corruption and wrong decisions. Members of the committee accused the PIA administration of not taking action against officers who were involved in corruption. They pointed out that pilots were appointed as directors and senior appointments were made at high salaries.
The chairman of the committee said that substandard bags and watches given to Haj pilgrims were purchased at high prices. Many pilgrims refused to accept the items because of their low quality. He regretted that no action had been taken against the officers involved in the wrongdoing.
Senator Mehmood said some officers had set up their own companies and this aspect should also be investigated by FIA.
The committee said PIA's domestic fares were quite high and despite heavy load of passengers it was incurring losses. It also called for an inquiry into the quality of food provided to passengers and sought details of catering contracts.
The committee directed the airline's managing director to come prepared in the next meeting and provide a written reply to the questions raised by the members within a week.
FIA's Peshawar Deputy Director Zaib Khan told the committee that PIA had caused a loss of Rs3 million to the national exchequer in the purchase of some vehicles. He said the PIA advertisement said it wanted new vehicles but second-hand vehicles were purchased.
The committee was told that the PIA authorities were not providing information to the FIA regarding inquiries pertaining to corruption cases. The chairman of the committee directed the PIA management to provide the required information so that the inquiries could be completed in time.
The committee sought a detailed briefing from the ministry of interior with clear roadmap to control the law and order situation and actions against illegal immigrants living in the country.
Expressing grave concern over the recent terrorist attack at PNS Mehran in Karachi, it directed the interior ministry to take action against illegal immigrants because they could be involved in the attack.
Members of the committee Gulshan Saeed, Jamal Leghari, Sughra Imam and Najma Hameed and senior officials of the interior ministry, PIA and SNGPL attended the meeting.
RECRUITMENT IN FC:
Peshawar Frontier Constabulary commandant Akbar Khan Hoti informed the committee that NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi had pressurised him to recruit his men and threatened of dire consequences if he did not do so.
“Kundi sent a list of 19 candidates for recruitment with his recommendations, but I did not recruit them because they could not get through the test,” he told the committee.
The FC commandant called for raising 126 more platoons in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying the law and order situation might worsen if military withdrew from border areas.
“The incumbent FC is not capable of combating the militancy in Fata, KP and bordering areas if army leaves,” Mr Hoti said.
The settled tribal border became insecure and terrorists used this weakness to enter Pakistan, he said.
It was the need of the hour, he stressed, to reinforce FC's original role in accordance with the FC Act of 1915 to check ingress of militants along the tribal and settled border.
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