Allegation against PML-N senator: Senate panel asks Punjab House to furnish report

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges asked the Punjab House on Monday to furnish the inquiry report within 15 days into serious allegation of outstanding dues of Rs 2.7 million against PML-N Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan on account of his four-year stay in Punjab House.

Committee's chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq, who is also from PML-N, presided over the Senate panel's meeting. The committee resumed consideration of a privilege motion moved by Khan regarding Rs 2,700,000 he is allegedly liable to pay to Punjab House on account of his stay there.

During the meeting, the committee chairperson informed the members that all the data regarding the booking of Punjab House rooms by the Senate Secretariat had been submitted to the committee. However, she said the Punjab House was unable to furnish any details of the claims against the PML-N senator. She said that the dues that were paid by the Senate were also being shown in the outstanding bills presented by Punjab House the "details of which must be presented to the committee as well."

She further said "If one claim is questionable, the authenticity of the rest could not be ascertained."

The committee members were of the view that no record implicating Khan could be found. On the request of the Punjab House officials, the committee allowed the investigation committee to complete its inquiry within 15 days and submit its report to the committee within the given timeframe.

"It is a surprise for me. Without any investigation, I was accused during a press conference that I was staying in the Punjab House and did not pay. As a senator, the former deputy chairman allotted me accommodation in the form of a room at Punjab House as it was not available for me in the Parliament Lodges. I moved to the Minister's Enclave from Punjab House after becoming minister," Khan said during a previous hearing of the committee regarding allegation of Rs 2.7 million payable by him to the Punjab House.

He said that he was not given any notice regarding Rs 2.7 million during his four years of his stay at Punjab House. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan and committee members including Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Muzzaffar Hussain Shah, Pervaiz Rashid, Dilawar Khan, Manzoor Kakar, Dr Sikandar Mandhro, Nighat Mirza and senior officers of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs attended the committee meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020