ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Communications was disrupted on Friday after a heated verbal exchange between Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Palwasha Khan, following questions over the construction of a road project allegedly linked to a private housing society in Lahore.
What began as a routine committee discussion on the performance of the communications ministry escalated into a sharp confrontation, forcing repeated interventions by the committee chairman and briefly halting proceedings. The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions in parliamentary oversight forums over transparency, accountability, and ministerial conduct.
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The dispute was triggered when Senator Palwasha Khan questioned whether a road project funded with public money was designed to benefit a specific private housing development. She maintained that her remarks were limited to seeking clarification on the use of state funds and did not amount to an allegation.
“It is my right to ask whether a project financed by public money is being used to benefit a private entity,” the senator said during the meeting, according to participants present. She stressed that parliamentary committees existed to scrutinise government spending and ensure accountability.
Minister Abdul Aleem Khan reacted strongly, rejecting the line of questioning and describing it as offensive. He told the committee that he could not tolerate what he viewed as personal accusations and said he would respond “in kind” if such remarks continued. At one point, the minister warned that respect must be mutual and accused some committee members of resorting to personal attacks rather than policy-based scrutiny.
The exchange quickly intensified, with both sides raising their voices. Senator Palwasha Khan responded that the minister appeared furious simply for being questioned. “I only asked whether you sought any benefit or not. It was not an allegation,” she said, adding that anger in response to oversight undermined parliamentary norms.
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As tempers flared, the minister reportedly remarked that “dishonest people from everywhere have gathered here,” a statement that drew strong objections from several committee members. The use of phrases such as “shut up” during the exchange further aggravated the situation, prompting calls for order from across the committee.
The committee chairman repeatedly attempted to defuse the confrontation, urging both the minister and the senator to observe decorum and allow the meeting to proceed. Senator Palwasha Khan formally asked the chairman to issue a ruling on what she described as the minister’s inappropriate behaviour, questioning whether such conduct was acceptable in a parliamentary forum.
“Mr chairman, is this any way to behave?” she asked, reiterating that her question was solely about transparency and the use of public funds. She demanded that the committee record its position on the minister’s remarks and conduct.
Other committee members also weighed in. Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan Mandokhail said that while ministers were routinely questioned during committee meetings, the exchange had crossed appropriate limits. “This was inappropriate,” he said, according to participants, adding that committees function best when disagreements are handled calmly.
Senator Pervaiz Rashid attempted to mediate between the two sides, calling for restraint and reminding members of the committee’s oversight role. His efforts, however, did not immediately calm the situation.
Following the chairman’s intervention, Minister Abdul Aleem Khan offered an apology to the committee. Senator Palwasha Khan declined to accept it, maintaining that a formal ruling on the record was necessary to address what she viewed as a breach of parliamentary norms. The secretary of the communications ministry was also seen approaching the senator in an effort to pacify her and allow the session to continue.
Despite the tense atmosphere, the committee eventually resumed its work. The communications minister proceeded to brief members on ongoing and upcoming projects under his ministry, including road infrastructure initiatives being overseen by the National Highway Authority.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House after the meeting, Senator Palwasha Khan defended her position and said the issue went beyond a single exchange. “If a road is being built with public money, why can we not ask whether someone is trying to benefit their private business?” she asked. She expressed disappointment over what she described as the broader conduct of the federal cabinet under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and said she would raise the matter with her party’s senior leadership.
She also called for strict action over the minister’s conduct and reiterated her demand for a formal ruling by the committee. Referring to the communications sector more broadly, she said concerns about transparency within the National Highway Authority were well known and required robust parliamentary scrutiny.
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The communications ministry, for its part, maintained that the minister had been unfairly accused of benefiting his own housing society and viewed the questions raised as a personal humiliation. Officials familiar with the meeting said the minister believed his integrity had been questioned on the Senate floor and that this prompted his strong response.
The incident, which circulated widely on social media through clips and reports, has reignited debate over the tone and conduct of parliamentary oversight sessions. Analysts note that standing committees are among the few forums where legislators can directly question ministers on spending decisions and project implementation, making restraint and professionalism essential for effective accountability.
Former parliamentary officials say such confrontations risk undermining the credibility of committees and diverting attention from substantive policy issues. At the same time, they argue that robust questioning, even when uncomfortable, is a core feature of democratic oversight.
While Friday’s meeting ultimately continued, the exchange is likely to have repercussions in future committee sessions. Senator Palwasha Khan has indicated she will pursue the matter within her party and seek further discussion in the Senate, while committee members are expected to revisit guidelines on conduct to prevent similar disruptions.
As the communications ministry moves forward with major infrastructure projects, including road construction and upgrades, lawmakers are expected to intensify scrutiny over project selection, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest. Whether the episode leads to clearer rules of engagement in committee proceedings or further political friction remains to be seen in the coming weeks.
