Senate supports demands of young doctors

Senators raise water and power issues in Balochistan.

ISLAMABAD:

Senators crossed party lines to support the demands of protesting young doctors as the Senate continued its proceedings on the sixth consecutive day.

The absence of ministers in the front rows irked members from both the opposition and the treasury benches who staged a walkout that halted the proceedings for some time. Apart from leader of the house Nayyar Bukhari and two other PPP senators, the rest of the members walked out.

Parliament does not usually convene on Saturday. If proceedings are held on Friday, the House resumes its session on Monday. Senate proceedings were scheduled on Saturday because of the death anniversary of PPP’s founding chairman, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto which falls on April 4. It will now meet on Tuesday. According to the rules of procedure, the lapse of two consecutive days is all that is allowed between two sittings during a session. Due to the absence of ministers, most of the time was consumed by points of order.

Leader of the opposition in the Senate Waseem Sajjad criticised the Punjab government’s inflexible stance on the issue and use of force against doctors. Nayyar Bukhari informed the House that the issue falls within the purview of provincial governments since health is a provincial subject after the ratification of the 18th constitutional amendment. The federal government is willing to offer its assistance for resolving the issue, he said.

Shortage of water and power in Balochistan

Some senators from Balochistan expressed their concern over the prolonged power crisis in 16 districts of the province. “There is no water or electricity from Pishin to Khuzdar. Our crops and animals are perishing because of water scarcity.” Senator Hasil Bizenjo remarked. “It’s a failure on the part of the federal government which could not even implement the package it had itself proposed- the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan.” Dr Ismail Buledi strongly condemned the government for not signing an agreement with Iran for establishing a power plant in Makran. The senators pointed out that terror attacks were a major factor in the disruption of power in the province.

Meanwhile, Senator Waseem Sajjad opposed a bill tabled by Nayyar Bokhari on the National Defence University, Islamabad. To avoid further controversy, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek referred the matter to the concerned senate standing committee and directed it to submit its report within a month.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 03^rd, 2011.