Tension boils over at minister’s absence

Members of Senate panel on power stage walkout

ISLAMABAD:

Tensions between a parliamentary panel and the Energy Ministry intensified as the committee members on Thursday unanimously walked out in protest against continued absence of the minister and secretary concerned from the committee meetings.

When the Senate Standing Committee on Power met at the Parliament House on Thursday, its members expressed serious concerns about the absence of Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Khurram Dastgir Khan, and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) secretary.

The committee noted that several important matters have been pending for a long time and have been repeatedly discussed without any resolution due to the absence of the minister and the secretary.

The committee emphasized that time is of the essence, and discussions without any progress are unproductive. Consequently, the committee members unanimously walked out in protest and the meeting was postponed.

Chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, the meeting was attended by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Senator Fida Muhammad, Senator Haji Hidayatullah, and Senator Umer Farooq as well as officials from other attached departments.

The Senate Standing Committee on Power has been issuing directives to the Energy Ministry to the frustration of the energy minister and Power Division officials.

Earlier, the Power Division had expressed disappointment over the involvement of parliamentary committees in the administrative affairs of the government.

The Senate and National Assembly standing committees on power have been addressing power sector issues.  The committees comprise politicians from different political parties who advocate for electricity schemes in their respective constituencies.

At times, the parliamentarians raise questions about the Power Division's reluctance to implement these development schemes that are contrary to the electricity supply policy.

The Power Division had conveyed its reservations to the Senate Secretariat in a letter, stating that electricity and policymaking fall within the domain of the federal minister and the prime minister.

In a letter, the Power Division had argued that the role of parliamentary committees is advisory in nature, and they do not have the mandate to issue directives about administrative affairs.

In a letter to the Senate Secretariat, the ministry conveyed the concerns of the federal energy minister. It stated that the committees had an advisory role in general policy or special problems, as stated in Rule 47 of the Rules of Business 1973.

The ministry had pointed out earlier that the prime minister and minister in charge of a division are empowered to make policy for the federal government and the concerned division, according to Rules 5(1), 5(5), 5(8), and 6 of the Rules of Business.

Furthermore, the powers of electricity policymaking have been granted to the Council of Common Interests (CCI) by Articles 153 and 154 of the Constitution.

Rule 166 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012, as amended up to January 27, 2020, states that committees may call for the views of the ministry and may send a report to the Senate, which may make recommendations as deemed fit.

This further clarifies the role of committees as advisory and recommendatory bodies through the forum of the Senate, and they cannot issue directives.

The Power Division stated that the use of the word "directed" in communications by the Senate Secretariat violated the Rules of Business 1973. It also infringes on the domain of the federal government as enunciated in Articles 90 and 99 of the Constitution.