NA committee summons Lahore metropolitan officer on September 1

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has summoned Metropolitan Corporation Lahore’s Metropolitan Officer (Regulation), Jawad-ul-Hassan, to appear in person before the committee on September 1.

The summons were issued on the direction of committee chairman Afzal Khokhar after the officer failed to attend an earlier committee meeting despite being served a notice.

According to the National Assembly Secretariat, Jawad-ul-Hassan has been directed to appear at 2pm on September 1 in the Constitution Room of Parliament House, Islamabad.

The committee took notice of his absence from its August 12 meeting and decided that his personal appearance should be ensured at the next proceedings.

The summons were issued under Rule 227(3) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The provision allows the committee to take steps to secure attendance when required in connection with parliamentary proceedings.

The official notice also warned that failure to comply could lead to further action under the powers available to the committee. These powers include authority similar to that of a civil court for enforcing attendance and requiring the production of relevant documents.

To ensure that the summons are properly served and implemented, the National Assembly Secretariat has sought assistance from the Punjab chief secretary.

The inspector general of police Punjab has also been asked to provide necessary assistance, within the law, to facilitate the officer’s attendance before the parliamentary committee.

Meanwhile, the chief officer of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore has been directed to ensure that Jawad-ul-Hassan is informed about the summons and appears before the committee personally.

The latest development represents an escalation following the officer’s earlier failure to attend the proceedings. The committee is now seeking his direct appearance rather than allowing the matter to proceed in his absence.

The September 1 hearing is expected to provide the committee an opportunity to question the officer directly and examine the circumstances surrounding his previous non-appearance.