Senate body irked by absence of CDA chairman, officials

Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet has asked officials from Ministry of Law and Election Commission of Pakistan to attend its next meeting to review legal and constitutional position of appointment of a political person as chairman Capital Development Authority. Meeting of the committee was held under the chair of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood on Wednesday in the Parliament House.
The meeting of the committee did not continue in protest over the absence of CDA chairman Sheikh Ansar Aziz and officials of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) for briefing on the CDA related agenda items. The committee also decided to move a privilege motion against additional secretary CADD and other relevant officials for their absence in the meeting. The committee members decided to write separate letters to chairman Senate, Leader of House and Leader of Opposition in the Senate regarding absence of the chairman CDA from the meeting.
"Institution of the CDA has been hijacked," said chairman committee Senator Talha. Talha said the chairman CDA has given an impression of not being a capable person to fulfil his duties by not attending the very first meeting of the standing committee. He also lamented that the government has failed to accord importance to the parliament, adding the committee meeting notice has been issued in advance to the chairman CDA and other relevant officials, but they still preferred to remain absent. He said that it would be reviewed in detail in next meeting of the committee as to how a political person can become head of an institution like CDA. Officials from the Election Commission of Pakistan, Establishment Division and Ministry of Law have been asked to attend the next meet to discuss the issue, he said.
Senator Kalsoom Perveen said that it is insult of the committee that no relevant official of the CDA turned up to discuss the important agenda items. A CDA member, however, informed the committee members that chairman CDA and mayor Islamabad has been visiting new airport along with Civil Aviation Authority officials and that's why he could not come to the committee. Later, meeting of the committee was postponed in protest on absence of the relevant officials and the chairman Capital Development Authority.