Pakistan assembly issues warrant against Punjab chief secretary

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s National Assembly issued bailable arrest warrant against the chief secretary of Punjab state for failing to attend its sessions, Online news agency reported Wednesday.

The warrant was issued against Chief Secretary Javed Mehmood for not appearing in meetings despite several notices. He was also warned that the warrant would be changed into a non-bailable one in case he misses another sitting of the house committee.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Pakistan International Airlines Ijaz Haroon has tendered an apology to the national assembly for allotting the economy class seat of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MP Rana Afzal to a federal minister.

During the meeting of the national assembly standing committee on rules, regulation and privileges, a motion was submitted by Afzal in which he had alleged that the administration of the airline cancelled his seat and allotted it to Federal Minister Babar Awan without any notice.

The committee also expressed annoyance over non-release of its last meeting’s news in the state-run PTV and directed its Managing Director Arshad Haroon to ensure telecast of parliamentary committee news in its bulletin.

The PTV official told the committee that its cameraman was present in the last meeting but a handout was not issued due to which the news could not be released.