Minister denies Fawad’s claim about cabinet discussion

PPP lawmakers ask PM to take action against information minister

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was debarred on Thursday from entering the upper house of parliament for his comments against key opposition members, but his press conference on Thursday sparked another debate in the Senate with some members urging government to take action against him.

Defending his earlier statement about alleged corruption of former ruling parties, Chaudhry on Thursday said ministers could not perform their tasks if the Senate chairman did not change his attitude.

He had also claimed that the federal cabinet had held deliberations on Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani’s ruling to bar him from entering the Senate.  “[During the cabinet meeting] the prime minister said nobody has the right to humiliate the ministers,” he had said.

Taking strong exception to the minister’s claim, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Raza Rabbani said the Senate chairman was never targeted like this even during dictatorial regimes.

He said an impression is being given as if everything wrong is done by the politicians. He said his party welcomes accountability provided it is across the board. Why non-political entities – judiciary, military, bureaucracy – are not held accountable. Accountability should be across the board and not one-sided.”

He also suggested setting up a Federal Accountability Commission, in which all stakeholders including politicians, bureaucrats and judiciary should be included as members to carry out accountability for all.

“I offer myself for accountability but let there be accountability of all,” he added.

The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan contradicted the information minister’s claim that Senate chairman’s ruling was discussed in the cabinet meeting.

The PPP’s Maula Bux Chandio demanded that an action should then be taken against Fawad Chuadhry for lying about the cabinet meeting and attributing a wrong statement to PM Imran Khan.

Election Act passed

The upper house also unanimously passed the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2018.  The bill was moved by Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati on behalf of Minister of State for Parliamentary affairs Ali Muhammad Khan to amend the Elections Act, 2017.



Earlier, Senate Standing Committee on Petroleum Chairman Senator Mohsin Aziz presented a periodical report of the committee on its performance during the period from May to October, 2018.

According to report, the committee has directed that a timeline should be given to the companies operating in Kohlu to expedite work on exploration of gas in the fields. It has recommended that the fields should be re-auctioned if the companies fail to expedite the work

The committee also directed that a progress report on the exploration of gas in Kohlu should be presented to the committee on quarterly basis.



The committee recommended that the Petroleum Division should take effective measures to keep the summary of increase in petroleum prices confidential to protect consumers’ interest. The body directed the Pakistan State Oil  to make a comprehensive plan for reducing the demurrages on POL products.

Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change Chairperson Senator Sitara Ayaz presented report of the standing committee on a point of public importance raised by Senator Sana Jamali on April 11, 2018, regarding Juniper forest and water issues at District Ziarat, Balochistan.

The committee was informed that one of the major reasons for degradation of these forests was fuel wood and grazing rights of local communities due to which natural regeneration was badly affected.

[WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FRON AGENCIES]