A Senate committee meeting on Monday scrutinized the transfer of constables, the absence of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chief, and the conduct of the acting Vice-Chancellor of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU). The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, led by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, addressed these pressing concerns.

Senator Sardar Gorgajj’s motion regarding the relocation of numerous constables from Balochistan to Karachi sparked debate. He stressed the difficulties faced by officers stationed far from their homes and the lack of response from higher-ups.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman clarified that the transfers stemmed from alleged smuggling involvement, adding that transfer requests could be emailed. However, the committee suggested alternative application methods for less tech-savvy personnel, demanding a report from the FBR within the week.

Allegations against customs officers in Karachi for unannounced shop raids and alleged assaults were also discussed. The FBR Chairman pledged suspensions for any wrongdoing and promised a personal visit to the affected businesses.

The committee criticized the CDA Chairman’s failure to appear, sending a deputy instead. Discussions centered on a missing file for a house in Sector I-10/4, deteriorating parliamentary housing, faulty elevators, and fraudulent allocations. The CDA’s representative was accused of providing an insufficient report, and the Chairman was summoned for the next session.

The conduct of QAU’s acting Vice-Chancellor, Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, was also questioned. Senator Jan Muhammad alleged improper syndicate meetings, student expulsions, and imprisonments under Jaspal’s leadership. A screenshot of a group chat message, where Jaspal allegedly accused the Senator of exerting pressure and lacking comprehension, was presented. Jaspal defended himself but apologized if such language was used. The committee resolved to summon the Inspector General, Interior Ministry representatives, and other officials for further investigation.

Finally, concerns arose about newspaper articles by a former Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Chairman, which allegedly damaged Pakistan’s reputation and disparaged political figures. The committee requested the presence of The News’ Chairman and a Planning Ministry representative at the following meeting to address these concerns and the harassment accusations that led to the former official’s dismissal.