ISLAMABAD: The Senate Implementation Committee Wednesday took strong notice of denial of appointment of Dr Lal Hussain by FPSC on the basis of Fata domicile, as a senator called for awaiting clear directions from the Establishment Division on this count and sought all the related record in next meeting.
Senator Hidayatullah, who raised the matter during the committee meeting here at the Parliament House, was of the view that rights of Fata areas that were merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were being usurped, since the state machinery appeared clueless about rules and laws pertaining to the issue.
He contended that placement of an advertisement once again for the same position must be put on hold unless clear directions have been issued from the Establishment Division. The committee asserted that the action taken by the Ministry has no constitutional basis.
To this, Chairman of the committee Senator Dilawar Khan urged the ministry to deal with the case compassionately. The committee gave directions of submitting all records of applications, short-listing, etc, in the next meeting.
Deliberating over the matter regarding issuance of Pakistan Origin Cards to Pakistanis living in European countries, the Committee was informed that as per circular letter banks are allowed to use certain documentation to ascertain their identity, as an alternative arrangement for biometric verification.
This notification was issued by the SBP on 7th October, 2019. As desired by the Senate Special Committee, SBP provided copies of documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for circulation in all embassies especially the Gulf countries for awareness. It is worth mentioning as of 31 October, 2019, 28.1 million active accounts have been biometrically verified. Moreover, 44,590 accounts of overseas Pakistanis have been facilitated since the issuance of BPRD Circular Letter on 03 June, 2019. Senator Sajjad Turi, who had raised this issue of public importance appreciated the SBP and related organisations for their diligence.
Discussing the matter of illegal occupation of property, raised by Senator Aurangzeb Khan, the committee was of the view that NAB must be summoned in the next meeting to get details of this case.
While considering the matter referred to Senate chairman on the request of Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, regarding implementation status of the report of the Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum, adopted by the House on 8th November, 2019, Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi was of the view that it is the collective responsibility of the Senate to ensure that the recommendations of the report should be implemented. He asserted that it would benefit the country as a whole and would play a phenomenal role in curbing corruption by mafias in the petroleum sector. He asserted that unlimited licenses were doled out, this led to malpractice. He asserted that OCC and Nepra must be summoned in the next meeting as the matter cannot be investigated effectively without representatives of these organisations being present.
Chairperson Ogra supported an in-house solution. She asserted that referring matters to NAB isn’t the answer to our problems. It was agreed that a progress update be given in the next meeting.
The meeting was chaired by Senator Dilawar Khan and attended by Senator Aurangzeb Khan, Senator Maulvi Faiz Muhammad, Senator Naseebullah Bazai, Senator Nighat Mirza, Senator Saleem Zia, Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen, Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi, Senator Taj Muhammad Afridi, Senator Hidayatullah and senior officers of the Ministry Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, FPSC, Nadra, Board of Revenue, KPK, Petroleum Division, Establishment Division.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Azam Khan Swati and Minister of State for Parliamentary Ali Muhammad Khan were also present on the occasion.