Pakistan became a pivotal US ally in the battle against extremism after September 11, 2001 attacks spurred the US invasion of Afghanistan, and the government has no exact estimates about cost incurred in the war against terrorism, the Senate was informed on Friday.
The respective governments have been giving various estimates about the cost of the war against terrorism, but federal minister for education while responding to a question about estimated costs in war against terrorism plainly said, "It is too difficult to give an estimate how much this war cost us."
He said the entire nation, directly or indirectly, suffered and the law-enforcement agencies and the military launched operations and carried out activities to stem the menace of terrorism. "Therefore, it would be very difficult...a huge exercise to have precise estimates of the costs of this war," he added.
This stunned Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani, who said: "I'm shocked to hear this from you [minister]. You're the federal government and you have just said that there are no estimates of costs incurred on the anti-terror war, whereas for every penny, the government is answerable to the people and the Parliament because it is public money."
However, the minister assured the house that he would work on it if he was given some time, adding it was difficult to come up with exact estimate as it is extremely difficult to bifurcate how much of public money has so far been spent on this war.
He also referred to Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Auditor General of Pakistan and other bodies to take care of accounts of the government departments and agencies. Senator Mian Ateeq Sheikh of MQM said he has been running a company for the last 35-40 years and has a record of even Rs 10 spent in a day, how a federal government can claim that it has no record of anti-terror war costs.
Senator Azam Swati of PTI said if this remains the situation of the federal government and the way ministers are responding to MPs' questions, the only option left with the Parliament is to go for early polls. "We must go for early elections as this is the only solution to the problem. Is it respect of the Parliament that there are 51 ministers and none is around to respond to our questions? This shows there is no writ of the government," he contended.
Rabbani had to prorogue the session sine die, exercising his powers as chairman Senate when he found out that majority of the ministers is absent despite business pertaining to their ministries on the agenda of the day. He said he would be left with no option but to ban ministers if they remain absent from the Senate without intimating the house in case of an official tour abroad or some other genuine issue.
"Is this house "Masi Khairaan" that the government has no details of how much was spent on the war on terrorism? Are you aware what can be the implications of your statement?" Rabbani grilled the minister for his inability to respond to the question. The minister was tasked to respond to the questions relating to the Ministry of Finance. As the House resumed and the chair began the question hour, the front row of ministers was empty with hardly 8-10 senators seen sitting on both sides of the aisle. Rabbani waited for a few minutes before taking up the first question relating to the war on terrorism.
Rabbani deferred the question till next session, saying he would see what could be done if the answer to the question is not given by that time. PML-N Senator Chaudhry Tanvir Khan had asked about money spent by the government in war against terrorism during the last ten years. The second part of the question was about the amount received from the US for fighting off terrorism in Pakistan with year-wise and head-wise break-up.
In a written answer, it was stated that Ministry of Finance has transferred this question to the Ministry of Interior. However, the Interior Ministry has not sent acceptance of the question. Rabbani again expressed disappointment when on taking up the very next question, minister for planning and development was not available in the House. "Where is the minister for planning? Is there any information about him with the Senate Secretariat or should we give an advertisement in local and some US dailies about the missing minister", he asked.
He said, "It is Parliament and not a Rajwada." Rabbani then directed the Senate secretary to issue notice to the ministers that proceedings would be held in the House instead of referring the matter to the House committee concerned, if they kept staying away without intimation. He then sought details of the officials sitting in the galleries, which, too, were found to be almost empty. Rabbani also proposed the government to either suspend a secretary or it should be mentioned in his ACR about his absence from attending the House proceedings.
"Should the members play ping-pong instead of asking questions, which is their basic right? The secretary may place a table right there for the members to play ping-pong, as ministers don't come and their departments also don't give replies to written questions," he said.
The question about the Planning Ministry was also asked in writing by Senator Tanvir Khan and in the written response, it was mentioned that the ministry had transferred this question to the Ministry of Finance. But the Ministry of Finance has not accepted the question and the Ministry of Planning has transferred the question to the Cabinet Division, it added. While Baligh replied to the supplementary question by Senator Talah Mehmood, the answer to his second question about the Ministry of Finance was not received. "This is ridiculous," Rabbani said and then sat quiet for some time.
Rabbani said he would have taken action against the absent ministers but it would be pointless, as the House will be prorogued shortly. He clarified if the ministers concerned don't come to the House or replies are not received, the Parliament cannot be blamed for this. He pointed out the rest of the agenda items could not be taken up, as the ministers concerned were not around, which including a calling attention notice and moving a motion for discussion in the House on half yearly report of FIA in respect of its activities as required under section 53 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016.
Baligh said he was available for the agenda items he was supposed to deal with. But the chair regretted that while there were over 50 ministers, 15 of them had gone abroad and asked if the government is being run from abroad. Rabbani lamented while the crucial issue of census is raging, the minister for Statistics Division is on leave for 15 days. "The government has no interest in running the House. The House commenced at 10:15am and now it is 10:50am and just one minister is present in the House. In the absence of ministers, how can the business be disposed of," he wondered and then prorogued the session.
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