The government had to face embarrassment in Senate on Thursday as it is still clueless about fresh series of terror attacks, playing havoc with the lives of innocent people, across the country. In wake of the fresh spell of violence, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani has sought briefing from the Interior Ministry about the perpetrators of the attacks, but a shoddy briefing by State Minister for Interior Baleegur Rehman that relied on media reports, left the Chair disappointed.
"What can I do...? Whatever you said has already been reported in media, and I want to know who are behind all these attacks; what are the reasons? If it is sensitive matter and you can't share the details, I can declare the House in-camera," he remarked.
But the minister insisted that the details he shared with the house were gathered through investigation by the law enforcing agencies. He said that Jamaat-ul-Ahrar - a faction of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) - claimed responsibility for the February 13 attack.
"This terrorist group is currently based in Nangahar province of Afghanistan and we've made it clear to Afghan authorities not to allow their soil for terror activities," he added.
"You don't get my point? We've already heard all this...my only concern is the recent eruption of terrorists attack and I want you to share the details behind these attacks with the Parliament, so come prepared tomorrow, and I'll give you an opportunity to give an in-camera briefing to the House," he declared.
OUTSOURCING CAA
Senator Taj Haider of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) sought intervention of Senate to stop outsourcing of airports by the government, which according to him will put the security of the country at stake.
He said that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed advertisements in newspapers to outsource the operation, management and development of new Islamabad International Airport, Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore and Jinnah International Airport Karachi.
"The CAA has invited request for proposals (RFPs) from international companies for outsourcing the operation, management and development of these airports, which is in no way justified as it has earned Rs32 billion dividends this year alone," he added.
According to the advertisement, which the PPPP senator read out in the House, the interested companies would be responsible to undertake the 'operation, management, maintenance and development' of aeronautical, non-aeronautical assets and land parcels to ensure effective management and development of facilities in and around such airports that are vital to safety and efficiency of airport operations and passenger satisfaction.
"The radars at the airports will be in the control of the company, which is ridiculous to say the least, while Islamabad and Peshawar airports are basically are the airbases, which can't be given to any foreign or local company," he maintained.
Senator Taj said that the scope of work will included airport operation and management, passenger facilitation and handling, complete management of land and airside/aerodrome operations, maintenance and management of airport buildings, allied infrastructure including airside, equipment, systems, facilities etc.
"Ensure provision of adequate international standard ground handling facilities. Develop and exploit commercial concessions, airport retails, etc. Future development and expansion of airports infrastructure including runways, terminal building/satellites, avio-bridge, taxiways, cargo village, car parks, maintenance and repair organisation, etc," he added.
Declaring the issue highly sensitive, the chairman Senate referred the matter to Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet to discuss the issue with officials of the Defence Ministry and report back to the House within one month.
MOTIONS
The House also adopted a motion, rejecting the placement of five regulatory bodies that were brought under the line ministries by the Prime Minister through an executive order last year.
Declaring the decision a sheer violation of the Constitution, the report declared it a wilful attempt to trample the 'very concept of oversight and recommended to bring all the regulatory bodies under the Council of Common Interests (CCI).'
After the regulatory bodies were placed under the line ministries, the issue was taken up in Senate by the opposition, and the issue was referred to Senate Functional Committee on Devolution headed by Mir Kabir, which submitted its report and it was adopted by the House with majority.
The report said that regulatory authorities should be independent, and recommended that an independent permanent secretariat of CCI shall be established on priority and all regulatory authorities established under Part-II of Federal Legislative List should be placed under the Council.
It recommended that the five regulatory bodies - National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) and Telecom Division, and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) - should be brought under the CCI.
The House also adopted another motion moved by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla with majority vote, and rejected privatisation of Heavy Electrical Complex.
The senators said privatisation of HEC was being done by the government without following the laid down rules, which could have resulted in loss of a national asset if the Senate had not intervened.
Senator Atique Sheikh of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that his company that consists of only 1,200 employees is ready to pay double price as compared to the one on which the government is going to sell out the Heavy Electrical Complex to a blacklisted company.
An adjournment motion moved by Mir Kabir Shahin about reservations of the smaller provinces in wake of upcoming population census was clubbed with a point of order raised earlier by Senator Saleh Shah that had been referred to the concerned committee.
The Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2017 was introduced in the House which was referred to the concerned standing committee of the House with directives by the chairman Senate to discuss the issue in presence of parliamentary leaders of all political parties.