Ministry asked to withdraw notices against medics

Senate panel also calls for following chairman's ruling

ISLAMABAD:

The health ministry was on Thursday asked by a Senate panel to immediately withdraw show cause notices which had been issued to doctors working in hospitals and medical centres of the federal capital.

During a meeting of the Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Thursday with Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq in the chair, the panel noted that on July 20, Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in a ruling had restricted the ministry from taking any action against some doctors until the matter can be taken up in the relevant standing committee.

Notwithstanding, on July 22, the ministry had issued show-cause notices to 26 doctors who have been working in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Poly Clinic and the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. These doctors had been deputed in the federal capital from the provinces and were subsequently permanently absorbed in the federal government hospitals under the five per cent quota.

During its meeting on Thursday, Senator Hidayatullah Khan and Senator Usman Kakar moved a privilege motion. They stated that the rulings of the Senate chairman or that of National Assembly speaker serve as precedents and are followed as conventions in Parliamentary practices. They further argued that flouting these rulings are an offence and even defiance of Parliamentary oversight, which is a core responsibility of the legislature and has to be respected.

The committee expressed respect for the unconditional apology tendered by the health secretary but also observed that the ruling has to be implemented.

The health secretary was asked to withdraw the show-cause notices issued to 26 doctors, within 48 hours.

The committee refrained from further discussing the case as it was beyond its ambit and that it will be taken up in the next meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Health.

The committee further discussed a privilege motion moved by Senator Mushahidullah Khan regarding allegations of unpaid dues worth Rs270,000 for staying in the Punjab House in Islamabad.

The panel took strong exception to not adhering to its recommendations and not calling a meeting of the audit committee to look into the inquiry. It directed to make sure that an audit meeting is summoned before the next meeting of the panel.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2020.