Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani on Thursday warned the government that he would take action if the government could not stop the irresponsible attitude.

He said only one question was answered while the rest of 31 questions were deferred due to absence of ministers concerned.

Such irresponsible, non-seriousness attitude had given irreparable loss to parliament, the chairman claimed.

To the statement of Raza Rabbani, leader of the House in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq said it was an important day but the interior minister was missing. He said importance should be given to parliament.

Later, Senate’s Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research Chairman Muzafar Hussain Shah presented 17th follow up report of the body regarding proposed conversion of 1400 acres of land of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC)/ Pakistan Agricultural Council (PARC) by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) into residential/commercial plots.

He said the committee gave recommendations that the summary for extension of lease should be withdrawn and that there were no tangible reasons for the cancellation of lease agreement of NARC land.

“16 months have passed the recommendations of the committee which was adopted by the House have not been implemented. In consequence thereof, I moved a privileged motion against the chairman of the CDA which was taken up by the Privileged Committee day before yesterday. Again, the CDA minister made a request stating that some time may be granted and the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jamaldini was pleased to grant them some time. The matter is also seized before the Supreme Court of Pakistan whereon the last date of hearing, the Council for the CDA had sought time and the matter is now fixed for a date in office. The possession of the land continues to be with the NARC.”

Raza Rabbani said that the House had indulged the government sufficiently in this matter as every now and then, the committee on privileges has deferred the matter and given ample time to the government to have the summary approved by the cabinet.

“As that was not forthcoming, therefore, I am constraint to direct the cabinet secretary to place the summary on the agenda of the next meeting of the cabinet and the House be informed accordingly,” the chairman directed.

The Senate was informed that the Defence Ministry and its attached departments signed eight agreements with different countries during the last five years.

To a question during question hour, Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir informed the House that six agreements were signed by the ministry and another two by the Survey of Pakistan.

He said these agreements were signed with Bosnia, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, China, and Norway. The minister said 17 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed with different countries.

Khurram said Pakistan conducted joint exercise with Russia for the first time in the country’s history and the agreement with help enhance bilateral relations with Russia. He said three MoUs including in naval field, training of military personnel of Russia in Pakistani institutions and personnel of Pakistan armed forces in the institutions of Russia were also signed.

Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Tahir Hussain Mashhadi deferred all questions related to the Interior Ministry on the minister’s request and urged the government to ensure presence of the ministers during the House business.

Published in Daily Times, September 15^th 2017.