By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Hafeez Ur Rehman, has expressed regret over an incident that occurred during a Senate Functional Committee meeting, stating that his remarks were not intended to be offensive.
In a statement issued to clarify the matter, Hafeez said there was no intention to use any un-parliamentary language during the exchange. “It was a light-hearted comment shared in a casual tone with the honorable senator,” he said. He added that if his words caused any offence, he had already extended his apology during the committee session. “We hold Senator Aimal Wali and his family in high regard,” the PTA chairman noted.
The incident in question took place during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Less Developed Areas, where Hafeez Ur Rehman reportedly accused Senator Aimal Wali of using hashish. The exchange quickly turned bitter, with sharp words traded between the two. Despite repeated apologies from the PTA chairman, Senator Aimal Wali continued to criticize him strongly during the session.
