Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Thursday referred to different committees some 33 issues forwarded to him by chief minister Pervez Khattak. Referring to a recent protest by KP provincial assembly lawmakers against the centre for allegedly depriving them of their legitimate rights, Rabbani - who is the architect of 18th Constitutional Amendment - said he went through the demands of chief minister KP regarding the rights of his province and found them genuine.
He said that the issues raised by the chief minister were of utmost importance which need to be resolved by the parliament. Out of total 33 issues, he added, nine are related to recently signed multi-billion dollar Pakistan China Economic Corridor (PCEC) projects. With directives to report back within two months, he referred the issues related to the corridor to a committee particularly constituted by the house to oversee matters pertaining to PCEC projects - as majority of the political parties are skeptical that a huge chunk of the projects could be used in Punjab by ruling government to attract voters in next elections. The chairman Senate referred the remaining 24 issues which also include the net hydel profit issue to concerned committees of the house for deliberations and directed to submit a detailed report within two months.
PERKS AND PRIVILEGES TO MPs The country is confronting with militancy and terrorism while majority of the masses can not afford one-time meal due to unavailability of any social safety net, but lawmakers in Senate headed by opposition leader Atizaz Ahsan pressed for a fairly extensive system of state-sponsored perks and privileges for their spouses and children.
Referring to benefits availed by their Indian counterparts, the flamboyant opposition leader in Senate cited that Indian MPs can even avail free air ticket even for his/her partner. This prompted chairman Senate Raza Rabbani to elaborate the word 'partner' - most probably for the sake of fun - to which Aitzaz said it meant a girl or boyfriend but in Pakistan the lawmakers are not to travel with their wives/husbands. He demanded equal perks and privileges for the lawmakers of both houses like government servants. The law ministry in a written reply informed the house that only wife and unmarried daughter of an MP can avail medical facility, which Aitzaz declared a malicious attempt by the bureaucracy to deprive the MPs of what he said of their genuine rights.
He also said that the house may go for legislation as the wives and husbands, children, and parents of the lawmakers should also be entitled to free medical treatment, air travel, etc, like the government servants. The attorney general (AG) for Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt informed the house that the law and justice ministry has said nothing objectionable or misleading rather it is law under which, the spouse and children of an MP can not avail an air ticket.
AGE RELAXATION FOR CSS Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani welcomed a government assurance that it has no objection to increase the upper age limit for CSS examination especially for the candidates belonging to Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other underdeveloped areas from 28 to 30 years but many said it was no solution to the problem.
The issue came under discussion after it was highlighted by 10 people through the recently launched public petition system and Rabbani said, "It is expected that the government would amend the relevant rules," after a policy statement by state minister for parliamentary affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed. In his ruling, Rabbani directed the federal government to take steps, in consultation with provincial governments, to curb the practice of issuing fake domicile certificates which was one of the reasons behind low representation of people from less developed areas in services. The chairman sought a report over the subject in two months. In addition, he asked the government to pursue an already bill pending in standing committee regarding overhauling of quota system in jobs.
Senator Usman Kakar and Mir Kabir from Balochistan said that the upper age limit be extended to 35 years while others proposed 30 years. However, Mohsin Leghari said that increasing age limit will not address the issue as he urged for reviewing quota system. He said that some people were conveniently getting domicile from less developed areas and thus usurping the rights of local people.
Hasil Bizenjo said that Balochistan is the province from where people have obtained fake domicile certificates. He demanded that all domiciles be scrutinised through Nadra. Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum (Retd) proposed that the relaxation of age should not be made on a permanent basis and be limited for a specified time period. The house was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10am.
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