Minister Admits Possible Misuse of Funds in Parliament Lodges

Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has acknowledged the possibility of financial mismanagement in funds allocated for Parliament Lodges during a Senate Standing Committee on Interior meeting.

The session, chaired by Faisal Saleem, also included discussions on the deteriorating condition of Parliament Lodges. At the outset, deliberations on the Islamabad Metro Bus Service Bill 2026 and the Islamabad Real Estate Regulation Amendment Bill 2026 were deferred.

Senators voiced strong concerns over poor maintenance, citing issues such as rat infestations, termite damage, and lack of cleanliness. Waqar Ahmad highlighted the overall dilapidated state, while Waqar Mehdi pointed to poor sanitation, non-functional lifts, and structural problems. Palwasha Khan described the situation as alarming, saying that excessive termites were damaging personal belongings and security conditions were inadequate.

Responding to the concerns, the Chairman of the Capital Development Authority stated that the CDA is not responsible for allotments or renovation funding of Parliament Lodges. He suggested outsourcing services as a modern solution to improve maintenance.

Addressing the committee, Talal Chaudhry admitted that substandard work had been carried out and conceded that misuse of funds “may have occurred.” He further revealed that the project for new Parliament Lodges had long been delayed but was revived due to the personal interest of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

The minister also disclosed that illegal occupants are residing in the MNA Hostel, many of whom owe substantial rent. He claimed that most of these unauthorized residents belong to a single political party.

The committee chairman directed authorities to submit a list of illegal occupants, stating it would be shared with the media. Omar Farooq questioned the government’s authority, asking how the country could be run if such individuals could not be evicted.

During the meeting, concerns were also raised over the performance of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Senator Waqar Mehdi complained that someone had been impersonating him in phone calls and alleged that despite filing a complaint six months ago, no action had been taken by the Karachi office.