The committee was scheduled to discuss proposed amendments to Pakistan Telecom (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. The committee expressed serious anger when secretary committee presented a latter before the committee sent by SCO and MoIT&T in which they informed the Senate penal that they could not come to attend the meeting. However, the officials of MoIT&T came later and joined the meeting. The officials of MoIT&T told the meeting that the reason behind their late arrival in the meeting was that they were requesting SCO to come to the meeting.
On this Achakzai told the officials of MoIT&T, "You have been invited by the committee; therefore, the MoIT&T has nothing to do with inviting anyone in the meeting. You are also not allowed to talk with SCO on behalf of the committee." The members of the committee got further infuriated when Ameena Sohail, Member Legal MoIT&T, told the committee that the committee has no mandate to amend an Act of the Parliament but it can only bring changes in the rules and business.
Achakzai told the member legal MoIT&T, "It was not your job to teach us our mandate and you are only authorised to answer the question, which the committee has asked from you." He directed the secretary committee to write a letter to the chairman and tell him that Member Legal MoIT&T has told the committee that amendment in Pakistan Telecom Act 1996 is not its mandate.
Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi also asked the member legal, "Do not teach rule of business to us and do not come in the meeting next time." He left the meeting saying that he will never come to attend this meeting until this issue is resolved. Talking to media persons Ameena said that amendments in Pakistan Telecom Act were proposed by the SCO and they submitted it before the committee directly. She said that an amendment in the act of Parliament can be made through a proper procedure - either through amendment by the parliament or through the approval of the prime minister.
The committee during the previous meeting had directed SCO and MoIT&T to hold detailed consultations regarding proposed amendments and submit report in this regard before the committee. When Achakzai asked officials of MoIT&T about the report prepared after consultation with SCO, they said that they have submitted a report before the committee in this regard. On this the convener said that there is nothing new in this report and they just came there to appear before the committee.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017