Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power Zahid Khan expressed anger against the Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali on Tuesday for arriving late to the meeting. As the committee proceedings began Chairman Zahid Khan took on Additional Secretary Incharge Ministry of Water and Power, Younas Dagha, Chairman Wapda, Zafar Mehmood and Managing Director Pepco for not attending previous meetings of the committee.
Zahid Khan said that the standing committee secretariat on January 22, 2015 received a letter from the Ministry of Water and Power in which it was proposed that the next meeting should be fixed for January 27, 2015 but the Additional Secretary, Chairman Wapda and Managing Director Pepco did not attend the meeting which was a clear violation of rules.
Chairman Standing Committee directed the committee secretariat to write a letter to Secretary Establishment against Additional Secretary Incharge Ministry of Water and Power, Chairman Wapda and Managing Director, Pepco.
Additional Secretary Incharge Ministry of Water and Power said that he respects members of Parliament and is ready to answer any question but clarified that the agenda and date of meeting are set after mutual consultations between Chairman Standing Committee and the Federal Minster; and further explained that he had to appear in Sindh High Court (SHC) on the scheduled date but sent a lawyer on his behalf and himself attended the standing committee meeting.
He said Federal Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif is attending Wapda's Foundation Day celebrations due to which he could not attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali entered the committee room and soon after there was an exchange of angry words between him and Chairman Standing Committee for arriving late. Abid Sher said Chairman Standing Committee is deliberately creating an atmosphere of conflict, adding that the Chairman is stubborn and his attitude is not acceptable. The Chairman Standing Committee responded that according to the rules Minister for State cannot participate in the standing committee meetings.
Abid Sher Ali angrily stated that Zahid Khan should take tuition to understand the rules as they only mention minister. He added that he has attended standing committee meetings on several occasions presided over by Senator Zahid Khan in the past. Minister of State requested Senator Mohsin Leghari and Senator Maula Bux Chandio to brief the Chairman about rules. Senator Mohsin Leghari said that the viewpoint of government should also be heard.
Senator Maula Bux said that Minister of State for Water and Power responds to queries in both the Houses. Abid Sher Ali said that Chairman Wapda had requested that the date of the meeting be fixed at a later date and both the Ministry and Standing Committee secretariats are exchanging letters. "Chairman Zahid Khan has taken it personally," he continued. The atmosphere of the meeting worsened when Zahid Khan announced that the next meeting of the committee will be held on February 19, 2105.
Minister of State for Water and Power said that Ministry's officials attend the meetings of the Parliament and Standing Committees. He said according to the rules a 15-day notice is mandatory for setting up a meeting. This angered Senator Zahid again and the two men exchanged hot words. Senator Maula Bux proposed that the Minister and Chairman should set good traditions. Senator Shahi Syed of ANP said that politicians come and go, bureaucrats always stay in power. The purpose of the committee is to serve the nation and bring improvement in ministries and institutions.
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