ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the circulation of a fake appointment/offer letter, issued in the name of Abdul Wajid and falsely attributed to the National Assembly Secretariat, on various social media platforms.
The committee directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to further investigate the matter and submit a detailed report in its next meeting.
The 17th meeting of the committee was held at Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of MNA Muhammad Afzal.
According to the National Assembly Secretariat, the committee was informed by the Additional Director General of the FIA that the accused, Abdul Wajid, had been arrested and produced before the court, where his physical remand was obtained for investigation.
During interrogation, the accused admitted that he had prepared fake National Assembly identity cards bearing his name and a fake appointment letter showing himself as Assistant Director, National Assembly of Pakistan. The FIA also took his mobile phone and laptop into possession under a proper seizure memo for examination and forensic analysis.
After deliberations, the committee directed the FIA to continue its investigation and place a detailed report before it in the next meeting.
The committee also expressed concern over the non-attendance of Mr Jawad ul Hassan, Metropolitan Officer (Regulation), Metropolitan Corporation, Lahore, and directed that he be summoned in the next meeting.
It also took up Question of Privilege No. 71 moved by MNA Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan against Mr Imtiaz Ali Shah, ex-Director General, Solid Waste Management Board. The mover pointed out that the ex-Director General had not obtained written leave from the committee for his absence. The committee decided to summon the officer in its next meeting.
The committee considered amendments moved by MNA Dr Nafisa Shah in rules 295, 296, 30, 31 and 205 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. After detailed deliberations and obtaining views from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice, the committee recommended that the proposed amendments to rules 295, 296 and 205 may not be passed, while amendments proposed to rules 30 and 31 may be passed.
The committee also considered amendments moved by MNA Aliya Kamran in rule 44 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. After deliberations and consultation with the relevant ministries, it recommended that the proposed amendments to rule 44 may not be passed.
The committee further considered amendments to rules 118 and 119 and the omission of rule 234A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. After discussion, it recommended that the amendment to rule 118 may be passed with amendments and rule 234A may be omitted as proposed. The proposed amendment to rule 119 was deferred till the next meeting.
Due to the non-availability of the mover, the committee deferred the Questions of Privilege given by MNA Makhdoom Syed Sami ul Hassan Gillani till its next meeting.
The committee also adopted the report of the sub-committee appointed under the convenership of MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Ch Naseer Ahmed Abbas, Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Waseem Qadir, Azhar Qayyum Nahra, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar, Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali, Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur, Shagufta Jummani, Khawaja Izhar ul Hassan, Sanjay Perwani, Naeema Kishwer Khan and Ch Muhammad Shahbaz Babar, who attended virtually. MNAs Aliya Kamran and Dr Nafisa Shah also attended the meeting as movers. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was also present.
Senior officers from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice and the FIA also attended the meeting.
