Islamabad, November 29, 2010: Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan has condoled the death of Muhammad Zahir Shah, MPA, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

In his condolence message to bereaved family, Deputy Speaker expressed his grief and sorrow over the sad demise. He prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and fortitude to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with equanimity.

Islamabad: November 14, 2010: Ms. Makiko Kikuta, Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs has assured that Japan is committed to deliver its pledges made at the FDP Forum for the social sector development and rehabilitation of flood-effectees. She informed that Japan would also give additional assistance to Pakistan for flood effectees keeping in view the massive scale of destruction caused by floods. The Japanese Minster Makiko Kikuta said this in a meeting with Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National assembly in Islamabad this morning.

While appreciating Japanese support to Pakistan, Faisal Karim Kundi said that Pakistan attaches great value to its unique relations with Japan which were tied in bonds of mutual understanding and friendship. The Deputy Speaker said that Japan is an important development partner of Pakistan which has always stood by it in time of crises. He appreciated the Japanese assistance for flood-effectees and rooting out terrorism from the country.

He said that Pakistan was confronted with bane of terrorism and extremism which has badly affected the economy of the country. He said that the government was trying its utmost to root-out that menace through its indigenous resources however; support of friendly would supplement its efforts. Faisal Karim Kundi said that the existing bilateral relations between both the nations should be strengthened by exchange of parliamentary delegations and people-to-people contact. He also apprised the Minister about the working of National Assembly and its standing Committees.

Makiko Kikuta acknowledged the concerns of Deputy Speaker and said that Japan desires to see Pakistan a prosperous and stable country. She said that for regional harmony and prosperity, a strong Pakistan was imperative. She assured that her country would continue supporting Pakistan in its endeavours against terrorism and development of diverse sectors. She agreed for enhanced interaction between political leadership and people of both the countries for creating better understanding. She agreed for regular exchange of parliamentary and trade delegations from both sides.

The Japanese Minster also informed the Deputy Speaker that her government would also persuade other Member countries in PDF forum to honour their pledges. She said that scale of destruction caused by floods was massive which requires international assistance. She said that Japan will assist Pakistan in rehabilitation of flood effectees and rehabilitation of infrastructure in effected areas through technical and monetary assistance.

Islamabad: November 11, 2010: National Assembly Standing Committee on House & Library met under the Chairmanship of Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly in the Parliament House, today to review the progress of National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS) and creation/renovation of additional suites in Government hostel for the accommodation of the Members of the Parliament.

Sheikh Waqas Akram, Convener of Special Sub-Committee of House and Library Committee constituted to probe into embezzlement in NAECHS apprised the Committee that the Special Sub-Committee has started to scrutinize the record of society from its commencement. He said that the Special Sub-Committee has recorded the statements of all stakeholders including previous administrators of the society, office bearers of the General Body NAECHS, Circle Registrar for Housing Societies, Officers of ICT Administration, Constructor NAECHS and all other functionaries related to NAECHS. He said that the Committee has almost completed its work and assured that the report of the Special Sub-Committee will be submitted in the next meeting of House & Library Committee. He said that a meeting of the Special Sub-Committee has been convened to provide a final chance to all those stakeholders who were invited in previous meetings of the Special Sub-Committee but they could not appear before the Committee due their personal reasons on 11.11.2010. A representative from FIA was also invited in the said meeting, he said. He said that it was astonishing for the Members of Special Sub-Committee that officers those who gave their statements before FIA has denied to own their declarations and changed their statements before the Committee. He informed the Committee that according to assessment of CDA the development work done by the contractor was not more than worth of Rs.40 lac, however the pervious administrator of the society has made a payment of Rs.9 crore against it. He also appreciated the cooperation extended by CDA, ICT Administration and National Assembly Secretariat to special Sub-Committee.

The Deputy Speaker, National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi appreciated the work done by the special Sub-Committee. He said that the rights of employees will be protected at all costs and no one will be allowed to misappropriate the hard earned money of the Secretariat employees. He asked the Committee to find some solution so that the employees those hard earned saving stuck up with the society from last so many years could be allotted plots. The House & Library Committee also extended validation period of the special Sub-Committee and approved further three months to complete its work.

The matters pertaining to the additional family suits in Government Hostel for the accommodation of Members of the Parliament and vacation of servant quarters and lobbies from unauthorized occupants in Parliament Lodges was also discussed in the meeting. The Deputy Speaker informed the Committee that a high level meeting was held to find out ways and means to vacate the servant quarters and lobbies in Parliament Lodges from unauthorized occupants. He said that it was decided in the meeting that CDA will demolish the unauthorized construction in the lobbies of Parliament Lodges and also launch an operation to vacation of servant quarters from the unauthorized occupants in the Parliament Lodges. He said that notices have already been served to the parliamentarians for verification of their staff residing in Parliament Lodges.

Islamabad: November 8, 2010: A meeting regarding Security of the Parliament Lodges was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Jan Muhammad Jamali, Deputy Chairman Senate in Parliament House this evening. The meeting was attended by Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly, Senator Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Leader of House Senate, Representatives of Capital Development Authority and Islamabad Capital Territory Police.

The matters pertaining to the Security of Parliament Lodges were discussed at length. It was unanimously decided that the people illegally residing in the Parliament Lodges were posing threat to the security of the Lodges and the Parliamentarians residing in there. It was decided that all such illegal occupant should be served eviction notices and upon expiry of deadline, they should be forcibly evicted from the premises. It was also decided not to resists pressure from any quarter.

It was decided to regulate the entry of the staff and visitors of Parliamentarians through passes which will be issued on the recommendations of the Parliamentarians concerned. The Deputy Chairman directed the ICT Police to beef up the security of the Lodges and Parliament House through strict vigilance and security checkup.