ISLAMABAD: Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala on Wednesday directed Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to disconnect the gas connections of parliamentarians living in parliament lodges if they default on their gas bills for more than two months.

He was chairing a meeting of Senate’s house committee in Parliament Lodges.

“I will lodge a FIR against you if you bring such things before the committee,” warned the convener saying it was a responsibility of SNGPL officials to make recovery from the occupants instead of keeping mum for years.

He said it was not the responsibility of the new occupant to pay the dues while directing the officials to restore the gas connection of lodges under occupancy of Rana Sanaulllah and Chaudhry Fawad Hussain.

At the outset of the meeting, the chairman reprimanded officials from Capital Development Authority (CDA) for misleading the committee over awarding a contract of the canteen of parliament lodges.

It was disclosed to the committee that CDA awarded a contract of a canteen to Islamabad catering service free of cost on the orders of Sardar Muhammad Sadiq, Personal Assistant to former Deputy Speaker National Assembly.

The officials of National Assembly secretariat however categorically denied the statement saying the matter was between CDA and P.S Sardar Muhammad Sadiq and neither they have any record of this, nor they have anything to do to pay the outstanding gas bill of Rs 3.6 million.

The members of the committee showed concern on reopening of the canteen for holy month of Ramzan which was earlier closed due to nonpayment of Sui gas bill of Rupees 3.6 million.

The CDA officials however assured the committee that the canteen would be made functional during holy month Ramzan since they have received bidding documents from different for the tender of the canteen.

How can you award a fresh contract to someone without clearing the dues and restoration of gas connection, questioned Senator Ashok Kumar, member of the committee.

The convener however referred the matter to the speaker National Assembly for directions on the payment of gas bill and restoration of the canteen in holy month of Ramzan.

Regarding the under construction new lodges, the convener decided to seek an advice from Speaker National Assembly and Chairman Senate to formulate a mechanism for completion work and allotment of lodges.