‘If we tolerate and don’t raise our voice against this, it will soon become the norm’
ISLAMABAD:
PPP Senator Palwasha Khan has filed a privilege motion in a Senate committee against Communications Minister Aleem Khan over “grossly inappropriate” behavior by a public servant.
Last week, a seemingly routine question about the performance of the Ministry of Communications turned into a heated debate during a Senate Standing Committee meeting, resulting in a verbal slugfest between Aleem and Palwasha.
The exchange, which quickly went viral on social media, unfolded when Senator Palwasha questioned the federal minister about the ministry’s performance and a specific road project.
Reacting angrily to the question, Aleem Khan accused Senator Palwasha Khan of aligning himself with dishonest persons.
During a press conference in the federal capital on Tuesday, Senator Palwasha along with other party members condemned the behavior of the Communications Minister.
She stressed that it was not a personal matter but a matter of the collective dignity of Parliament and that silence on the matter would not be appropriate.
“If we tolerate and don’t raise our voice against this, it will soon become the norm.” She clarified that she did not blame anyone.
“I had submitted a written question a few months ago under the rights granted to lawmakers. However, the responsible officials never responded, which subsequently led to this issue being added to the agenda of the Senate Standing Committee.”
Palwasha maintained that she was raising an issue about a road built by the National Highway Authority and funded by taxpayers’ money. “I asked if it was built for public benefit or to provide a benefit to a particular community.”
“Raising questions about the use of public resources is the fundamental duty of legislators,” she added. “Time will tell who was at fault and who was wronged,” the senator said.
