ISLAMABAD, Dec 18 The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, apparently the most powerful arm of the parliament, is facing acute shortage of support staff and space to run its affairs smoothly.
In the absence of a permanent additional secretary, a temporary joint secretary is looking after the committee's administrative affairs for the last over nine months, and despite repeated reminders and requests by its Chairman Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the National Assembly Secretariat has failed to provide the needed staff.
“Besides presenting PAC's reports in upcoming session of the National Assembly, I am going to raise this issue at the floor of the house because it is seriously affecting the committee's working. So far there is absolutely no support and we are not asking for the moon but fulfillment of our genuine needs,” Chaudhry Nisar observed on Friday. The PAC met here at the parliament house.
Considering its tasks and importance, the committee needs much bigger organisational structure, but unfortunately despite innumerable requests made to the NA secretariat, there is no headway on this front, Mr Nisar said. “Initially, the present committee was given an additional secretary, a sessions judge on deputation, but he proved a burden on the committee without having required skills. The committee needs some technical hands,” Mr Nisar said.
During the meeting, Mr Nisar again sent three of its members Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N, Yasmin Rehman of PPP and Asiya Nasir of JUI (F) to discuss the issues with the secretary NA.
When asked by PAC chairman, Joint Secretary Tahir Hanfi, who is looking after committee's administrative affairs on a stop-gap arrangement basis, said in case an outsider was brought to the higher position in the PAC wing, he would not work in his present capacity.
He said he had fulfilled all requirements to be promoted to BPS-21 as prescribed by the federal government over three years back. Mr Hanfi, who received committee's appreciation for his role as head of PAC secretariat, said if he was promoted on merit and assigned to work with the PAC, he would be glad. However, he assured the committee that he would complete all given tasks even if he was relieved from his present post of acting joint secretary.
The PAC is also facing space problems and has to ensure availability of a committee room before scheduling its meetings. “I am constituting five special committees which one by one will remain in session throughout the year. Therefore, we need one committee room completely at PAC's choice,” Mr Nisar said.
Under the rules, the speaker National Assembly is the top boss and enjoys absolute hiring and firing power within the assembly secretariat. However, a number of important positions including three additional secretaries administration, PAC and committees, are lying vacant.
When contacted, Mohammad Tariq, the spokesperson for the National Assembly, said “after today's meeting between three PAC members and secretary NA, the latter has decided to appoint two deputy secretaries and two section officers for the assistance of the committee”.
Rest of the supporting staff will also be arranged in near future, he said.