Unwelcome decision: Govt censured for stripping regulatory bodies of autonomy

PPP asks govt to revisit its decision of placing organisations under control of ministries

ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Peoples Party censured the government on Tuesday for stripping five regulatory bodies of their autonomy, saying the move would be overturned by the Supreme Court, if challenged.

A day earlier, Premier Nawaz Sharif gave the administrative control of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Frequency Allocation Board, Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority to the ministries concerned.

PPP lawmaker Naveed Qamar alleged that the “monarchy of the Sharif family” was treating the country like a private fiefdom. “The government must have sought permission from the Council of Common Interests before taking this step,” he added. “These are statutory bodies, and the government’s decision is against the Constitution.”



The PPP moved an adjournment motion against the government decision. Meanwhile, the party also moved an adjournment motion in the upper house of parliament seeking discussion on the matter. From the treasury benches, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the move.

Earlier Speaker Ayaz Sadiq gave the floor to PTI lawmaker Asad Umar, asking him to speak on the report of the Justice Faez Isa-led judicial commission on the Quetta carnage which has exposed chinks in the government’s anti-terrorism armour.

But Umar used the opportunity to castigate the Sharif family over the Panamagate scandal. Repeated interventions by the speaker fell on deaf ears. Umar said treasury MNA Daniyal Aziz was allowed to speak on the Panama Papers for an hour in Monday’s proceedings – and “now, it’s my right to speak on the matter”.

Observers believe the PTI by raking up the Panamagate scandal had tried to save Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from grilling in the lower house of parliament.

Unable to restrict Umar to the commission report, the speaker abruptly prorogued the session sine die.

Earlier, the session started with a thin attendance from the treasury benches. The opposition was quick to point out quorum, leading the speaker to suspend the proceedings for almost an hour.

PPP’s Naveed Qamar hit out at the government for proroguing the session a day earlier than schedule which was against an understanding reached during a meeting of the House Business Advisory Committee.

“The opposition wanted the session to continue till December 23 but agreed to a government proposal to prorogue the house on December 21,” he said. “The government, however, reneged on its word and prorogued the session a day earlier.”

He said the government was not giving the mandatory time for question hour. “If this practice continues, then the lawmakers will stop asking questions and points of order will become the main instrument to do the house business.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st, 2016.