The CDA chairman’s recent claim he is ‘solely’ entitled to allot suites at the Government Hostel has infuriated legislators, because it has traditionally been the prerogative of NA deputy speaker. PHOTO: FILE.
ISLAMABAD:
In what may prove to be a test case for the supremacy of parliament, the traditional row between legislators and bureaucrats has taken an interesting turn, now that parliamentarians have decided to take their tussle with the federal capital’s civic agency chairman over the allotment of accommodation in the MNA Hostel to the floor of the House.
A group of parliamentarians from the PML-N have decided to move a privilege motion against Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif, who enjoys close ties with the prime minister and has recently been promoted to grade 22.
The CDA chairman’s recent claim he is ‘solely’ entitled to allot suites at the Government Hostel, commonly known as MNA Hostel, has infuriated legislators, because it has traditionally been the prerogative of the National Assembly (NA) deputy speaker.
The office of the chairman CDA came up with the stance after the NA deputy speaker issued a cancellation notice for a suite allotted to CDA Member Planning Waseem Ahmad Khan, by the CDA chairman.
Khan was asked to vacate his suite, as it had been allotted to a PML-N MNA Asyia Naz Tanoli. Instead of asking the member to vacate the suite, the chairman defiantly allotted another suite at the hostel to director security of the CDA. The allotment of another suite aggravated the disagreement.
“There is a set precedent. During the tenures of previous governments the deputy speaker used to allot suites at the hostel,” said a senior hostel official requesting anonymity. However, he said the rules do not clearly state whether the NA deputy speaker or CDA chairman is authorised to make the allotments.
CDA spokesperson Asim Khichi said the CDA chairman was the competent authority to allot rooms. Under the rules, the CDA is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Government Hostel, he added. “The CDA staff deputed at the hostel directly reports to Member Engineering of the CDA, who is answerable to the chairman. Therefore, the power to make allotments rests with the chairman CDA.”
He said the suite was allotted to the CDA member planning on November 14, while the personal secretary to the NA deputy speaker re-allotted the suite on November 19 to an MNA. When contacted, MNA Tanoli declined to comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
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