ISLAMABAD: The proceedings of the Senate on Wednesday were suspended for 40 minutes to protest the non-reply of 14 questions out of a total of 39, asked by various senators.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani expressed indignation over what he said a non-serious attitude of various departments in answering these questions, while observing that such attitude was tantamount to undermining parliament’s authority.
Calling out departments for their callous attitude, the chairman said that even in response to the simple questions, the concerned department replied that the information was being gathered.
To protest such attitude, the proceedings of the house were suspended in protest.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed seconded the chairman.
Subsequently, Rabbani directed the Senate Secretariat to avoid placing government’s (agenda) business in Senate’s Order of the Day on Thursday and Friday (Dec 14 and 15, 2017).
Announcing his ruling, Rabbani said the government was not interested in taking part in its business placed in the House, so the house would not take government’s business for two days.
The chairman announced the ruling when minister concerned was absent from the house to reply the Calling Attention Notice moved by PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi. In the notice, the senator drew the attention of the Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms towards the vacant post of National Endowment Scholarships for Talent (NEST) CEO, despite the fact that the process for the recruitment of suitable candidate was finalised six months ago.
