Islamabad 21st December, 2016: Senator Sehar Kamran (TI) speaking on the adjournment motion in the Senate on placing regulatory bodies under ministries said the government has compromised independence and transparency of these bodies by taking this decision. She said these regulatory bodies were installed to protect the interests of all stake holders especially consumers and now they have become vulnerable to political maneuvering.
Senator Kamran said the government was bound to get approval of this move from the Council of Common Interests before issuing a notification but they have shown once again that they have little regard towards democratic institutions and norms. She said this is not a standalone move, recently the government also silently restored Prime Minister’s power to sack heads of public sector entities without assigning any reasons.
Senator Sehar Kamran said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) introduced the 18th Amendment to devolve powers and strengthen institutions but the present government is rolling back PPP’s efforts which would harm democracy and independent functioning of institutions in the long run.