Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman has expressed regret over an incident that took place during a recent Senate meeting, attributing it to a misunderstanding.
The incident occurred a day earlier when tensions flared after the PTA chairman allegedly made an inappropriate remark directed at Awami National Party (ANP) President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, reportedly asking if he had smoked charas (hand-made hashish).
In a statement, he clarified that he had no intention of using disrespectful or unparliamentary language. He explained that a brief exchange occurred informally upon the return of senators to the meeting, and that if it inadvertently caused offence, he had already issued an apology before the committee.
The PTA chairman said he holds Senator Aimal Wali Khan and his family in high regard and respects all members of the Senate. He reaffirmed his commitment to continuing his duties in line with parliamentary protocols and legal frameworks.
He also stated that his institutional record speaks for itself, and that the ongoing criticism on social media and in political discourse is based on a misunderstanding.“It is now necessary to move forward with patience and a constructive attitude in the national interest,” he added.
The clarification came after Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani referred the disciplinary matter to the Senate Privileges Committee, following a heated altercation in Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas meeting chaired by Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani.
During the meeting, Rehman asked Wali whether he had smoked chars. In response, he said: “How can a government official tell me I’ve come here after smoking charas?” Senator Aimal said as he expressed outrage over the comment. “Who gave you [PTA chief] the audacity to speak like this [to me]?” he added.
The PTA chairman later attempted to defuse the situation, saying, “It was a mistake on my part,” and apologised to the senator.
