A file photo of the senate. PHOTO: FILE
As opposition senators continue to protest over alleged provision of false information pertaining to terror victims, the government yet again faced embarrassment on Tuesday by providing contradictory information, about the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).
The house directed that action be taken against the management of the airline on misleading the house on two issues – purchase of new aircraft and delay in flights.
The uproar started in the house after the contradiction in the Kashmir Affairs Minister Barjees Tahir’s oral statement-- who was speaking on behalf of the defence ministry-- and the written statement provided by PIA.
Senator Sardar Yaqoob Khan had questioned whether there is any proposal under consideration to purchase new aircraft for PIA, and if so the number thereof.
The minister replied that the government has no proposal to purchase new aircraft. However, the government will get four aircraft immediately on lease from Turkey, and 10 more at a later stage on lease, he added.
The written reply from PIA, however, differed from Tahir’s statement that there was no proposal under consideration to purchase new aircraft. This contradiction caused a furor in the house and opposition lawmakers asked the minister to clear his position.
During the question hour, the Senate referred PML-N Senator Hamza’s question to the concerned standing committee for addressing the issue that, despite affirmed delay in PIA flights, the management stated in the written reply that there had been no flight delays.
JUI-F Senator Talha Mehmood asked the chair to refer the issue to the concerned standing committee as the PIA management had tried to mislead the house by providing untrue information. “I, myself, was on board a flight that was delayed for an hour,” said Senator Hamza.
Muzaffar Hussain Shah of PML-F said this was not a solitary incident and several PIA flights were delayed. “It would be in order to check PIA’s performance and find out major reasons for this problem,” he remarked.
The presiding officer Senator Rafiq Rajwana referred the concerned question to the concerned standing committee for probing the issue.
MQM Senator Tahir Mashhidi noted that without an opposition, the house was incomplete. “Sincere efforts should be made to bring all the members back to the house,” he asserted.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2013.
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