Absence of PMC heads irks NA panel
The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on Tuesday expressed displeasure over the non-professional attitude of Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) for submitting an “unsatisfactory reply” on the MDCAT issue.
The committee meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of Khalid Hussain Magsi, said that the report submitted by the PMC was not satisfactory and showed its displeasure over the absence of its President Prof Arshad Taqi and Vice President Ali Raza, saying that it shows lack of importance towards the parliamentary business.
The chairman along with members of the committee convened an urgent meeting of the standing committee on the same agenda on February 4 and directed the PMC president and vice president to ensure their presence.
Later on, the committee members staged a walkout in protest.
During the proceedings, the chairman said, “The disease of corruption infecting the country for the last 70 years cannot be eradicated in two years.
“Emotions don't work and PMC can't fix things right away.”
On taking up the issue, the chairman said that they did not ignore the interests of the people for their own “petty interests”.
Committee member Ramesh Kumar said, “It’s a big problem and the special assistant [to the PM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan] has to come.”
The committee chairman replied that he had to go to the cabinet meeting so he did not come.
Another member, Alia Hamza, said that summons should be issued to the PMC president and vice president and they should be here themselves. “People from erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas are also here.”
She demanded cancelling the committee in protest until the relevant authorities come here, saying: “We will not take a briefing till then.”
The father of a student, Imran, appeared before the committee over the MDCAT issue.
He said that there were errors in the result announced by the PMC which was sent to the committee by the National Assembly speaker.
“Fourteen multiple choice questions [which appeared in the paper] were not from the syllabus,” he said, questioning that under which law the PMC made this rule, was it for 50% of the children to sit again in the tests.
He also added, “All four options of the bio-question were incorrect.
Ali Raza misreported the facts in court.”
Raza admitted that there was also a software problem, Imran said, adding that the court ordered addressing concerns of all the children.
Imran told the committee that he talked Raza about his daughter Muqaddas Imran.
“The vice chairman told me that if the girl wants to commit suicide, she should do it.”
Committee member Dr Seemi Bukhari said that action should be taken regarding any irregularities.
Another committee member, J Prakash, said, “These children are our assets.” (With input from app)