ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges discussed various privilege motions of members of the house, and gave recommendations to the concerned authorities for implementing them in letter and spirit.

The Committee met with Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon in the chair at the Parliament House on Wednesday.

The Committee unanimously confirmed the minutes of its previous meeting held on 2 September 2020.

On the amendments moved by Shazia Marri in Rules 200(1), 206, 208(1), 210, 212, 244(A)(2), 244(B) and 244(C)(2) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007(Referred on 8-5-2019), the Committee pended the amendments with the direction to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to submit the detail working papers on these amendments regarding Panel of Chairpersons, Select Committees, Special Committees, Parliamentary Committees and the Standing Committees including ministerial and non-ministerial, and also the detail of party-wise position of women parliamentarians in the next meeting of the Committee.

On the issue of SOPs for providing security to parliamentarians in the country, the Committee pended the issue till its next meeting with the direction to the secretary Ministry of Interior to finalise the report in this regard, and report to the Committee within 15 days.

The Committee also directed the DIG (Admn) Sindh should provide four security personnel to Shagufta Jumani today positively.

On the Question of Privilege raised by MNA Atta Ullah regarding allegedly not responding to his telephone calls by Managing Director, Water Board, Karachi (Referred on 1-10-2019); the Committee expressed its displeasure for not attending the meeting by both the present and the Ex-MD Water Board, and directed that they should ensure their presence in the next meeting of the Committee.

On the Question of Privilege raised by Dr Haider Ali, MNA regarding alleged reimbursement of huge money by the member on account of his treatment as published in the Daily News dated 23-08-2019 (Referred on 13-12-2019), the Committee disposed of the Question of Privilege with the direction to all concerned that due care should be taken in future.

The Committee also directed that in future, any information sharing about the members of Parliament in public should properly be checked, and the required information should be shared with the concerned member in advance for avoiding any inconvenience/mis-understanding in this regard.

On the Question of Privilege raised by Syed Imran Ahmed Shah regarding not allowing hand carry in the airplane to the said member by the PIA staff, Lahore on 23-05-2019. After fee deposit amounting Rs5,800 was allowed hand carry in the airplane. He was traveling from Lahore to Islamabad in the PIA flight No PK-652.

The Committee unanimously rejected the inquiry report presented before the Committee. The Committee pended the Question of Privilege with the direction that the chief executive officer (PIA) and DG (CAA) should again inquire into the matter, and the mover should be taken onboard, and report in this regard should be submitted to the Committee within 15 days.

On the briefing by Barrister Raheel Ahmed on the issue of contempt of Parliament, the Committee appreciated the briefing given by Raheel, and directed him to convert this briefing into a bill on the subject matter, and report to the Committee, in its next meeting.

The committee also directed that the presentation given by Raheel should also be circulated among the parliamentary leaders for their information, and also a copy to Shazia Marri.

The Committee also decided to invite Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan as a special invitee in the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee pended the issue till its next meeting.

The Question of Privilege raised by Muhammad Iqbal Khan, MNA/parliamentary secretary regarding use of derogatory and insulting language against the member in front of representative of the member who was sent to Javed Iqbal, XEN Irrigation, KPK (Referred on 21-7-2020); the Committee pended the Question of Privilege till its next meeting with the direction that present and ex-secretary, and XEN Irrigation Department, KP should attend the next meeting of the Committee in person, otherwise, summons would be issued for ensuring their attendance in the next meeting of the Committee. The Question of Privilege moved by Muhammad Iqbal Khan, regarding non-visit/inspection of the under construction road, leading from Shaheed Manza to Gilmi Akka Kheil Mir got Kheil as discussed telephonically with Shafat Ullah, SDO, Communication and Works, District Khyber by the member on 10th July, 2020, and the said officer was not found for the aforesaid purpose on 11-7-2020 as well as Azmatullah, XEN, C&W, Communication, Khyber was in line with the said officer (Referred to the Committee on 6-8-2020), the Committee pended the Question of Privilege subject to the satisfaction of the mover.

The Committee also directed the additional secretary, C&W to resolve the issues of the mover and report in this regard be given to the committee in its next meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020