Beware bureaucrats, you have been warned
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The usually soft-spoken Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani minced no words on Wednesday when he promised dire consequences for senior bureaucrats approaching parliamentarians and ministers for seeking favours in service-related matters.
He was speaking at the outset of the first cabinet meeting after the passage of the budget.It was an interesting reversal of priorities considering that only a few days back on June 27, The News had run a story about instances when the prime minister’s office was itself found involved in forwarding such recommendations based on the request of parliamentarians.
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ISLAMABAD: The usually soft-spoken Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani minced no words on Wednesday when he promised dire consequences for senior bureaucrats approaching parliamentarians and ministers for seeking favours in service-related matters.
He was speaking at the outset of the first cabinet meeting after the passage of the budget.It was an interesting reversal of priorities considering that only a few days back on June 27, The News had run a story about instances when the prime minister’s office was itself found involved in forwarding such recommendations based on the request of parliamentarians.
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Labels: Bureaucracy, Governance, Leadership, Legislators, Nepotism, Parlimentarians, Politicisation
posted @ 10:36 AM,
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Funds for MNAs
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009
Rather unexpectedly, the prime minister has announced a doubling in the annual development fund for the 342 members of the National Assembly, raising the amount to Rs20 million for each fiscal year. It is not clear if the benefit will be extended also to the 100 members of the Senate, who, till now, had been on par with the legislators in the lower house. But even if this does not happen, it is quite obvious that there will be a considerable new drain on the exchequer as a result of the decision. Oddly enough, no mention of it had been made in the budget and the prime minister's announcement came as the budget session concluded. It is true that the money for each MNA is at no point handed over directly to her or him. Instead it is allocated for the implementation of development schemes in their respective constituencies. But despite this, it has always been seen since the practice was introduced almost two decades ago as a form of political bribery. The availability of funds to carry out works of different kinds obviously empowers MNAs and gives them clout within their constituencies. In the past there has been blatant misuse of this hand-out by not giving it to political opponents and thereby placing them at a disadvantage.
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Rather unexpectedly, the prime minister has announced a doubling in the annual development fund for the 342 members of the National Assembly, raising the amount to Rs20 million for each fiscal year. It is not clear if the benefit will be extended also to the 100 members of the Senate, who, till now, had been on par with the legislators in the lower house. But even if this does not happen, it is quite obvious that there will be a considerable new drain on the exchequer as a result of the decision. Oddly enough, no mention of it had been made in the budget and the prime minister's announcement came as the budget session concluded. It is true that the money for each MNA is at no point handed over directly to her or him. Instead it is allocated for the implementation of development schemes in their respective constituencies. But despite this, it has always been seen since the practice was introduced almost two decades ago as a form of political bribery. The availability of funds to carry out works of different kinds obviously empowers MNAs and gives them clout within their constituencies. In the past there has been blatant misuse of this hand-out by not giving it to political opponents and thereby placing them at a disadvantage.
More
Labels: Funds, Legislators, MNAs, Parlimentarians
posted @ 10:03 AM,
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Minister barred from Punjab PA
The News International, Pakistan, Thursday, July 02, 2009
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan on Wednesday barred Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor from attending the PA proceedings for eight days for misconduct.
Besides, opposition member Bushra Nawaz Gardezi was also denied entry to the House for one day for displaying a banner containing derogatory remarks against the Leader of the House. The opposition, while accepting the decision taken by the speaker, ended the boycott of the assembly session and participated in the proceedings whereas the session was later prorogued by the speaker.
Soon after the speaker finished his remarks, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan thanked the speaker and sought an apology from his side over the incident, which took place on June 29. He lauded the speaker for his decision, saying the decision would be remembered in parliamentary history.
PML-N Punjab President and senior parliamentarian Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, in his address on the occasion, also sought an apology over the June 29 episode. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed also tendered an apology for using objectionable remarks against PML-Q legislator Mohsin Leghari.
Source
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan on Wednesday barred Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor from attending the PA proceedings for eight days for misconduct.
Besides, opposition member Bushra Nawaz Gardezi was also denied entry to the House for one day for displaying a banner containing derogatory remarks against the Leader of the House. The opposition, while accepting the decision taken by the speaker, ended the boycott of the assembly session and participated in the proceedings whereas the session was later prorogued by the speaker.
Soon after the speaker finished his remarks, Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin Khan thanked the speaker and sought an apology from his side over the incident, which took place on June 29. He lauded the speaker for his decision, saying the decision would be remembered in parliamentary history.
PML-N Punjab President and senior parliamentarian Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, in his address on the occasion, also sought an apology over the June 29 episode. Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed also tendered an apology for using objectionable remarks against PML-Q legislator Mohsin Leghari.
Source
Labels: Code of Conduct, Leadership, Legislators, Parlimentarians
posted @ 12:52 AM,
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Thank you very much, your funds stand doubled
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The News International, Wednesday, July 01, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday thanked both the treasury and opposition members for passing the budget without any bickering by doubling their development funds from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million.
“This time the National Assembly passed a budget unanimously and,therefore, as a token of appreciation, I announce to increase the development funds of parliamentarians from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million,” said the prime minister, while speaking at the last sitting of the budget session, to the delight of the desk-thumping congregation.
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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday thanked both the treasury and opposition members for passing the budget without any bickering by doubling their development funds from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million.
“This time the National Assembly passed a budget unanimously and,therefore, as a token of appreciation, I announce to increase the development funds of parliamentarians from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million,” said the prime minister, while speaking at the last sitting of the budget session, to the delight of the desk-thumping congregation.
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Labels: Corruption, Governance, Legislators, Nepotism, Parlimentarians
posted @ 5:41 PM,
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PML-N, PML-Q MPAs come to blows in Punjab PA
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Tuesday, June 30, 2009
LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday witnessed complete mayhem after Prisons Minister Ch Abdul Ghafoor manhandled a woman legislator of the PML-Q for displaying a banner against the chief minister.
Ghafoor embarrassed the entire treasury after he manhandled two women parliamentarians as well as used abusive language against Bushra Nawaz Gardezi. He hit headlines after his encounter with customs officials at the Allama Iqbal International Airport last month.
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LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday witnessed complete mayhem after Prisons Minister Ch Abdul Ghafoor manhandled a woman legislator of the PML-Q for displaying a banner against the chief minister.
Ghafoor embarrassed the entire treasury after he manhandled two women parliamentarians as well as used abusive language against Bushra Nawaz Gardezi. He hit headlines after his encounter with customs officials at the Allama Iqbal International Airport last month.
More
Labels: Legislators, Parlimentarians, PML(N), PML(Q), Punjab Assembly
posted @ 9:22 AM,
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Ministerial
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, June 06, 2009
misdemeanour
The inquiry commission set up to look into the incident involving a Punjab government minister who refused to allow the baggage of a friend who had arrived at Lahore airport from Bangkok to be scanned is instructive. Rather than looking into facts, a main focus for the inquiry commission, comprising two former MNAs and two bureaucrats, seems to have been to clear the minister at all costs. The media reports concerning the airport incident, which involved an exchange of harsh words between Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, the concerned minister, and customs staff, had insinuated he whisked away his friend's luggage to cover up a smuggling attempt. These reports could indeed be inaccurate. The media, we must admit, is not always right and not always entirely balanced. But the conclusion reached in the report is ludicrous. It maintains the minister had no notion that taking the 'Green Channel' option at airports did not mean custom's had no right to search baggage. Had this indeed been the case, smuggling of banned items – including narcotics – would be child's play for criminal elements around the world. It seems hard to believe this did not strike a man who deals regularly with law-breakers in his role as prison's minister.
Given that a public scene of considerable ugliness took place at the airport, the finding by the inquiry commission that the media 'blew the incident out of proportion' also seems entirely unfair. It is of course the primary task of the media to act as a watchdog and keep the public informed. It may sometimes make mistakes, but the commission's report does nothing to persuade us that this is indeed what happened in the case of the unpleasant matter at hand. There is no explanation as to why the minister lost his cool. The setting up of the inquiry commission marks some progress. At least such happenings are no longer brushed under the carpet or robustly denied. For this, the media deserves credit. The fact that the skirmish at the airport was broadcast by TV channels forced the government to react. But there is still a long way to go. If they are to acquire credibility, such inquiries must genuinely aim at seeking out the facts. Conducting them merely as an eye-wash does more harm than good. The reputation of the minister will not be salvaged by a report no one believes. This is something we need to realize so that we can move towards a system based on real accountability and the good governance that comes with it.
Source
misdemeanour
The inquiry commission set up to look into the incident involving a Punjab government minister who refused to allow the baggage of a friend who had arrived at Lahore airport from Bangkok to be scanned is instructive. Rather than looking into facts, a main focus for the inquiry commission, comprising two former MNAs and two bureaucrats, seems to have been to clear the minister at all costs. The media reports concerning the airport incident, which involved an exchange of harsh words between Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, the concerned minister, and customs staff, had insinuated he whisked away his friend's luggage to cover up a smuggling attempt. These reports could indeed be inaccurate. The media, we must admit, is not always right and not always entirely balanced. But the conclusion reached in the report is ludicrous. It maintains the minister had no notion that taking the 'Green Channel' option at airports did not mean custom's had no right to search baggage. Had this indeed been the case, smuggling of banned items – including narcotics – would be child's play for criminal elements around the world. It seems hard to believe this did not strike a man who deals regularly with law-breakers in his role as prison's minister.
Given that a public scene of considerable ugliness took place at the airport, the finding by the inquiry commission that the media 'blew the incident out of proportion' also seems entirely unfair. It is of course the primary task of the media to act as a watchdog and keep the public informed. It may sometimes make mistakes, but the commission's report does nothing to persuade us that this is indeed what happened in the case of the unpleasant matter at hand. There is no explanation as to why the minister lost his cool. The setting up of the inquiry commission marks some progress. At least such happenings are no longer brushed under the carpet or robustly denied. For this, the media deserves credit. The fact that the skirmish at the airport was broadcast by TV channels forced the government to react. But there is still a long way to go. If they are to acquire credibility, such inquiries must genuinely aim at seeking out the facts. Conducting them merely as an eye-wash does more harm than good. The reputation of the minister will not be salvaged by a report no one believes. This is something we need to realize so that we can move towards a system based on real accountability and the good governance that comes with it.
Source
Labels: Ch Abdul Ghafoor, Justice, Parlimentarians, PML(N), Punjab Minister
posted @ 9:02 AM,
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