Convocation: NA speaker stresses importance of knowledge

‘If Dasti’s allegations are not proven, action can be initiated against him’.

LAHORE:

Pakistan’s future depends on its youth. It is their responsibility to lead the country, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said on Saturday.

Sadiq was addressing the Hailey College of Commerce’s convocation ceremony. The speaker also gave away medals and degrees to the graduates.

Sadiq said that it was good to know that the college had started MPhil and PhD programmes. Remembering his time at the college, he said, “During my studies, I was also working with my father.” He said he had been an average student but an outstanding cricket and badminton player. That’s why, my googly clean bowled Imran Khan,” he joked. He said that he had been using what he learnt at college. He said had adopted an austerity policy at National Assembly to set an example. He said his expenditure on protocol was limited, and he did not travel in first class or stay in expensive hotels.

“With China’s cooperation, Pakistan’s parliament will become the first ‘green parliament’ in the world”, Sadiq announced.  He said the Chinese government would bear the expenditures of $6 million. He said LED lights were being used to save energy. He said e-governance was being implemented to ensure transparency.

Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran said “Knowledge is the source of power and respect. No nation can become knowledgeable without the strength of character”. Earlier, Hailey College of Commerce Principal Dr Liaqat Ali said that for the first time in the history of the college, PhD classes had been started and they were awarding 14 degrees to the first batch of MPhil students for the session 2011-2013.

Talking to the media after the event, Sadiq said stern action would be taken if MNA Jamshed Dasti came up with substantial evidence to back his allegations of some parliamentarians bringing alcohol, hashish and dancing women to the parliament lodges.  He said close circuit television (CCTV) cameras footage for the past month had been summoned. He said if there was no evidence, then action could be initiated against Dasti. “If liquor bottles are found by police at the Punjab University, it does not mean the university administration is involved,” Sadiq said in response to a question.

Senator Jahangir Badar, Registrar Amin Ather, and senior faculty were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2014.