ISLAMABAD, Aug 1 (APP): Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures & Privileges on Friday recommended immediate suspension of  Assistant Political Agent (APA), Jamrud for his alleged failure to prevent gruesome tragedy of the murder of four family members of Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri and did not respond professionally after the incident.

The committee met at the Parliament House under the Chairmanship of Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi considered the Privilege Motion moved by Senator Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri on June 10, regarding failure of the Political Agent to contact him after assassination of four members of his family.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi observed that the APA not only failed to take appropriate measures for ensuring the safety and security of the senator’s family despite clear and present danger but also demonstrated complete lack of professionalism and administrative capability in the aftermath of the horrendous tragedy.

Mashhaddi said that the APA did not even bother to contact the aggrieved family not to speak of taking them on board in this matter. As a result, the tragedy compounded. Then, he intriguingly proceeded on Umra, leaving investigations half way and inconclusive. This kind of behaviour amply demonstrates that being callous, inefficient and indifferent, he is not fit to hold such a sensitive post, remarked the Chairman. He added that Parliamentary Committees are an extension of the Parliament itself and these must be given the deference they deserved.

The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to oversee the matter and coordinate with the FATA Secretariat for immediate arrest of those found responsible in the gruesome murder. It asked the Political Agent,Khyber to expedite the proceedings in coordination with other government agencies to nab the culprits and to award them exemplary punishment in accordance with Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR),the law of the land.The committee termed the report furnished by the Interior Division as unsatisfactory and incomplete.

It instructed the SAFRON and Secretary FATA to monitor the situation and apprise the concerned senator of the progress regularly. It regretted that no significant progress seems to have been made so far in this matter.

The Committee appreciated the grace, dignity and patience shown by Senator Abdul Malik Qadri despite such a great tragedy.

The members of the committee observed that though the Federal Government is not directly responsible yet the case must be seen in the overall broader picture. There is a serious threat to the writ of the Government in FATA and an equally serious approach is needed to ward off this threat.

They said that Senator Qadri and his family enjoy tremendous respect in the area being the spiritual leaders, but this family has been grievously wronged. If parliamentarians are treated in this manner what would become of an ordinary citizen, they questioned. The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Kamil Ali Agha took strong exception to the unsatisfactory report furnished by the Ministry of Interior and termed it as an affront to the elected Parliament and the Committee. He said that the Government Ministries and Divisions must take Parliamentary Committees more seriously.Senator Mashhadi outrightly rejected the report submitted by the Interior Ministry and directed that in future such reports must be comprehensive, detailed and enlightening as befitting for submission to Parliament.

Earlier, the Secretary Interior informed the Committee that his ministry is constantly in touch with the FATA Secretariat and Administration to know the latest position in this regard and all out efforts are being made to apprehend the culprits without further delay. he disclosed that for the first time in FATA’s history an officer of the level of DIG Police has been assigned the task to carry out investigations only because of the fact that the matter is related to an honourable Senator. He hoped that the culprits would be arrested soon.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Senators Kamil Ali Agha, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Dr. Muhammad Ismail Buledi, Hafiz Abdul Malik Qadri, Rashid Ahmad Khan, Ms. Saadia Abbasi and Nasir Khan, besides the Secretary Senate, Raja Muhammad Amin, Secretary Interior, Syed Kamal Shah and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, FATA and representative of Governor NWFP.