Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary body set up for the protection of the rights of members of the National Assembly has stopped lawmakers from withdrawing any privilege motion on their own against any public servant or department and said if matter is with the privilege committee, then it is duty of committee to decide it.

This decision was made in the national assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges committee meeting on Tuesday when a mover, Abdul Ghaffar Dogar, suddenly announced that he wanted to withdraw the privilege motion against a female officer of Punjab who had misbehaved with him. Dogar moved the privilege motion against him but mover Abdul Ghaffar did not want to proceed against additional secretary finance Ms Kiran. But committee chairman Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry refused to allow him to withdraw the motion and said now it was the property of the parliamentary body so the decision would be made according to law and rules. No member would be allowed to settle the issues outside the committee.

After this, the committee decided to summon Ms. Kiran Khursheed, Additional Secretary, Finance/ES, Government of Punjab in its next meeting to further discuss the question of privilege raised by MNA Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar as it was not satisfied with the written reply submitted by the said officer.

Keeping in view the facts and unsatisfactory reply given by the Government of Punjab, on the question of privileges raised by MNA Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan appointed a four-member sub-committee under the convenership of MNA Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj to further inquire into the issue as contained in the question of privilege. The committee met under the chairmanship of MNA Junaid Anwar Chaudhary in the Parliament House, this morning.

While discussing the question of privilege raised by MNA Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan regarding allegedly launching of malicious campaign in media by Mr. Noor-ul-Ameen Mengal, Ex-DCO Faisalabad, against the Hon. Member, the Committee heard the points of view of both the complainant and the respondent.