Questioning impartiality of its chairman Senator Nisar A Memon, Opposition Leader Raza Rabbani said that the committee had taken a decision with consensus, therefore, three members could not reverse it afterwards.
A ruling coalition Senator Mouhim Khan Baloch staged token walkout after he was not allowed to give his comments on the matter, being part of the committee. He had also supported the opposition's contention on the issue.
Senator Farhatullah Babar, who was privy to the two meetings of the committee that saw Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed brokered a deal among all nine members to recommend to the government to cancel VVIP planes deal and review the purchase of spy planes, maintained the body's consensus could not be overturned in any case.
He contended that how a prime minister without quoting any report of the concerned quarters could decide to go for new planes, whereas the existing one were capable of function for another three to four years.
"This too is decided at a time when the nation is in crisis due to the post-quake situation," he said.
The senator referred to Mushahid, who was not present in the House and said that they (Mushahid and Babar) had prepared the draft of recommendations to be sent to the government and the chairman had approved them.
But after two days, three treasury members called another meeting, which was redundant as, the matter had already been amicably decided, Babar said.
PML Senator Kamil Ali Agha saw no harm in both deals, saying since the agreements was signed before the quake, it was necessary to fulfil international obligations.
Senator Memon, defending the decision, said he took the position according to what his conscience and that he was answerable to God Almighty.