close
Thursday March 28, 2024

Rabbani sets another good example to follow

By Tariq Butt
February 26, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Mian Raza Rabbani strictly followed the official rules while retaining the gifts, none of them of high value, he received from foreign dignitaries in his capacity as the Chairman of the Senate.

To ensure transparency, all the gifts he got from foreign leaders and how he retained them, quoting the relevant Cabinet Division notification, were disclosed on the Upper House website for the information of all and sundry, according to the Senate of Pakistan: Journey of evolution since March 2015, a paper that documents the overall functioning and working of the parliamentary chamber since he became its head three years back.

The paper says that the chairman, who retires on March 12 after the election of his successor by the new Senate, has started a new practice of making public the gifts received from foreign dignitaries.

Rabbani received a German silver plate from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen; a decoration piece from Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin; and a Frederique Constant Geneve wrist watch from Chairman of the Shura Council of Bahrain Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh. After evaluation from the Cabinet Division, sums of Rs1,200 and Rs68,000 were deposited by Rabbani in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) under Toshakhana head of account towards the retention cost of one silver plate and one wrist watch respectively. However, the decoration piece fell within the permissible limit of Rs10,000 as per Toshakhana procedure, meaning that it can be kept without paying anything to the government. Toshakhana a government archive where gifts received by state functionaries are kept.

The Senate chief received from various dignitaries of the Parliament of Iran during visit on August 4-8, 2017, a wooden frame from Ali Ardeshir Larijani, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran; wooden frame from Sadegh Larijan, Chief Justice of Iran; scenery from Reza Majidi, Secretary General of Asian Parliamentary Assembly; decoration piece from Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chairman of the Assembly of Experts and Chairman of the Guardian Council of Islamic Republic of Iran; and ceramic cup with crystal weight from Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Iran.

It was stated that after evaluation from the Cabinet Division these gifts fell within the permissible amount of Rs10,000 and were retained without paying any amount. Likewise, Rabbani received from Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the China’s Political Consultative Conference during his visit to Pakistan on April 5-6, 2017, a ceramic decoration piece. He deposited Rs2,000 in the SBP, which was the retention cost of this gift, which did not fall within the permissible limit of Rs10,000.

Also, the chairman was given by various dignitaries during their visit to Pakistan in January, 2017, one dagger, which was presented by Dr Yahya Mahfoodh Salim Al-Manthri, Chairman of the Council of State of Oman; and one wooden frame by Allauddin Boroujerdi, Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran.

An amount of Rs3,000 was deposited by Rabbani in the SBP, being the retention cost of one gift, which was not covered by the permissible limit of Rs10,000. However, the wooden frame fell within it.

Further, the chairman received from various dignitaries of Parliament of Cambodia during visit from November 26 to December 2, 2016 one silver candy bowl from the President of the Senate of Cambodia and one silver decoration piece from the President of the National Assembly of Cambodia.

The retention cost of Rs10,000 was deposited by him with the SBP as these gifts do not fall within the permissible limit.

Rabbani also got from various dignitaries of Maldives during visit on October 15-18, 2016 one wooden flower vase, from the President of Maldives; one wooden boat from the Speaker of Majlis of Maldives; and one small wooden decoration piece. All these gifts were covered by the permissible limit.

He received from the members of the Iranian Parliament during meeting of Standing Committee of Economic & Sustainable Development Affairs held on July 26-27, 2016 at Islamabad four water/tea bottles (small); one wooden frame and one Dastarkhwan. There was no need to pay anything to the government as these gifts fell with the permissible limit.

By documenting all the gifts he received from foreigners and getting them as per the laid down official procedure by paying money, from his own pocket, where due, Rabbani lived up to his reputation and integrity, which has been above board. He leaves the office with the same honour he was elected to it three years back.

At times, scandals have emerged about the gifts received by government functionaries wherein they got them without paying anything to the government although they were not covered by the permissible limit of Rs10,000.