‘Charas’ controversy: Chairman Senate referred matter to Privileges Committee

ISLAMABAD: After the verbal clash between Senator Aimal Wali Khan and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman Maj. Gen. (R) Haffez-ur-Rehamn, the Chairman Senate, has referred the matter to the Senate Privileges Committee.

The decision was made after the heated argument between the Awami National Party (ANP) chief and the PTA chairman in a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, chaired by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani.

ANP chief in his post on X said that “As the matter has been referred to the privilege committee, I request everyone to please stop the discussion over here. I thank you all for all the support you have shown me”.

“I am indebted to you all. May democracy prevail, and, will continue fighting for the rights of the nation, whatever the circumstances are”.

However, the PTA has issued a statement on the official X handle stating that “Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman, has expressed regret over the incident that occurred during the “Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas” meeting and clarified that he had no intention of being disrespectful or using unparliamentary language.

“Chairman PTA emphasized that he holds Senator Aimal Wali Khan and his esteemed family in the highest regard and continues to respect all members of the Senate,” the statement reads.

Earlier, an unusual situation arose in the meeting of the Senate Committee on Underdeveloped Areas when a heated exchange of words took place between the Chairman PTA and Senator Aimal Wali Khan.

The incident began when the Chairman PTA allegedly mocked Aimal Wali Khan and said, “You look like you came after smoking hashish!”

The Chairman PTA said during the conversation that “Give me a hashish cigarette too.” Hearing this, Aimal Wali Khan got angry and scolded the Chairman PTA and said, “What is wrong with you? How can a government employee say that he came after smoking hashish?”

Aimal Wali said that this attitude of a government official is completely unacceptable, who gave you the courage to speak like this, to which the Chairman PTA admitted that he had made a mistake.

The Chairman PTA kept apologizing to Aimal Wali repeatedly, Aimal Wali demanded action against the Chairman PTA from the committee and said that the Chairman PTA will remain in the meeting or I will remain.

Along with this, the Chairman PTA had to leave the meeting of the Standing Committee.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee said that he condemns the attitude of the Chairman PTA, Agha Shahzeb Durrani said that the Chairman PTA has insulted not only the senator but also the committee.