ISLAMABAD

A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology witnessed sharp exchanges on Tuesday after lawmakers raised concerns over the visit of Ministry of IT officials and senior executives of Ignite to Gilgit-Baltistan ahead of the region’s upcoming elections.

Committee member Sadiq Memon questioned the timing of the visit, claiming that officials from the Ministry of IT had travelled to Gilgit-Baltistan during an active election period.

“Ministry of IT officials have gone to Gilgit-Baltistan in connection with the elections,” Memon said, arguing that such visits could create perceptions that may cast doubt on the transparency of the electoral process.

The issue surfaced after the committee noted the absence of Ignite’s chief executive officer from the meeting. The chairman of the committee sought an explanation for the CEO’s non-attendance.

Officials informed the committee that the Ignite CEO and Ministry of IT officers were currently on an official visit to Gilgit-Baltistan.

Memon objected to the explanation, alleging that ministry officials had travelled to the region to support the campaign of a political party, a claim rejected by government representatives.

Responding to the criticism, Ministry of IT officials maintained that the Gilgit-Baltistan visit had been scheduled well in advance and was part of an official programme rather than an election-related activity.

However, Memon argued that since the election schedule had already been announced, it would have been more appropriate to reschedule the visit in order to avoid any perception of political involvement.

The discussion highlighted broader concerns among lawmakers regarding the conduct and timing of official visits by government institutions during election periods, with committee members emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in the neutrality of state institutions.