The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday witnessed some dramatic scenes when its chairman Malik Allah Yar refused to start proceedings in protest against absence of PIA chairman Tariq Kirmani and defence secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi.
After a lot of drama, defence secretary Tariq Waseem Ghazi rushed to the parliament house and appeared before the committee meeting that was earlier adjourned. Malik Allah Yar, who usually remained very cool and calm throughout proceedings, got infuriated and had made it clear the meeting would not start unless they (chairman and secretary) appear before the committee.
Absence of PIA chairman Tariq Kirmani was also echoed on Wednesday as well when he came to the parliament but did not bother to attend the PAC meeting. On Thursday, the committee was scheduled to meet at 1000 hours to discuss audit objections regarding performance of the national flag carrier.
The meeting, however, started more than two hours behind schedule after the defence secretary reported to Malik Allah Yar in his chamber at the parliament house. Interestingly, PIA chairman Tariq Kirmani did not turn up because of his engagements, leaving no other option for the committee chairman, who deferred PIA audit reports and took the Civil Aviation Authority report.
The perturbed PAC chairman asked chief accounting officers of concerned ministries, who happened to be secretaries of respective ministries, and other concerned officials to ensure their presence in the meeting. However, the committee proceedings went on smoothly despite raising serious concerns about irregularities committed in different CAA departments.
The committee took exception of unsettled internal dispute of about Rs 1.54 billion between the CAA and PIA and directed the secretary to settle the issue within two months.