Absence Of Officials From Meeting Irks Parliamentarians

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21th july, 2016) : National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control expressed displeasure over the absence of officials of the Ministry of Interior from the meeting on Thursday and decided to move a privilege motion against them. The meeting also decided to write a letter to Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on the matter of absence of officials from the meeting.

Presiding over the meeting, Chairman of the Committee, Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan and members expressed their concerns over the absence of higher officials and their lack of interest in discussing meeting's agenda.

The agenda of the meeting was confirmation of minutes of last two meetings, the illegal dispossession (Amendment) Bill moved by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Criminal law (Amendment) bill, 2014 (moved by Ms.

Aliya Kamran MNA and others (insertion of new section 297-A Amendment of second schedule Act V of 1898) and also the anti- Honour Killings Laws (Criminal Laws Amendment) bill, 2015 moved by Dr.

Nafisa Shah MNA (Amendment of sections 309, 310, 311, 338 E, 345 and schedule ll, Act V of 1898). Member of the Committee Ms. Naeema Kishwar Khan asked the Chairman to wind up the meeting as it is quite astonishing that members of the committee were present but officials of the Ministry concerned were absent.

Nawab Muhammad Yousuf Talpur said until written apology was not tendered the meeting should not be convened.

He also asked the chair to cancel the next meeting of the Committee scheduled to be held on July 27. Ms. Aliya Kamran said the agenda of the meeting was quite important but lack of interest of the Ministry's officials was causing unnecessary delay in passage of the proposed amendments in Bills. Rana Shamim said a letter would be written to Ch Nisar Ali Khan to bring the matter officials' absence from the meeting into his knowledge. The Chairman of the Committee also announced cancellation of the forthcoming meeting of the committee. Later, the committee also passed a resolution moved by Naeema Kishwar to condemn explosions occurred in various cities of Saudi Arabia recently.

Members of the committee termed explosions an attack on Muslim Umman and also sympathized with the affected families. The Committee also expressed condolence with Nawab Yousaf Talpur who is also member of the committee over the death of his wife and also prayed for the departed soul. Other members present in the meeting were MNAs Syed Iftikhar-ul-Hassan, Makhdoom Syed Ali Hassan Gillani, Nauman Islam Shaikh, Sher Akbar Khan, Ehsan-ur-Rahman Mazari, Dr.

Arif Alvi, Syed Asif Hasnain and Dr. Ibadullah.