Awami National Party’s (ANP) Syed Jaffer Shah and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nighat Orakzai’s joint resolution to praise Malala’s achievements did not come up in the current session, which was adjourned on Monday till January 2.
The government has long been dragging its heels over the resolution ever since it was submitted on October 24. Shah told The Express Tribune the government was reluctant to keep this resolution on the assembly’s agenda.
The ANP leader said the resolution moved by him and Nighat Orakzai is yet to appear on the house’s agenda. He added both have met Speaker Asad Qaiser several times over the matter, but with no success.
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is worried about its coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) or perhaps they both don’t want to pass the resolution,” said Shah.
When Shah submitted the resolution in October, it got stuck with the Assembly Secretariat. Moreover, the Jamaat-e-Islami threw a spanner in the works by demanding it be linked with another resolution seeking the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is incarcerated in the US on terrorism charges.
The house passed a resolution on Aafia Siddiqui, asking the federal government to press the US government for her release on October 29. However, on the very same day, the speaker did not allow Orakzai to speak about Malala and directed her to bring a fresh resolution.
After submitting a fresh resolution, Shah and Orakzai hoped that the house would pass it following Muharram’s break.
Orakzai told The Express Tribune that the treasury benches did not want to discuss Malala Yousafzai on the floor of the house. She alleged the government was not even supportive of women and minority lawmakers.
She pointed out the rest of Pakistan, and in fact the world, had acknowledged Malala’s achievement and the Nobel Peace Prize was proof of that fact.
Orakzai said PTI may be able to bring women on the roads, but was reluctant to give them their rights in the assembly. The PPP MPA said opposition parties were ready to support the resolution if it was taken up on the floor of the house.
The National Assembly (NA), Senate as well as the Punjab and Sindh provincial assemblies passed resolutions praising Malala; however, her home province is yet to follow suit.
PTI chief Imran Khan also congratulated Malala on winning the prize.
When contacted, Minister for Information Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani said he was unaware of the inner workings of the house and the assembly speaker would be in a better position to comment on such matters.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2014.
COMMENTS (6)
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@Pakistani: USA does not release or return terrorists.But they will be much elated to have Malala.KP assembly's appreciation or not hardly matters.They have other heroes-The warriors with guns.
"She pointed out the rest of Pakistan, and in fact the world, had acknowledged Malala’s achievement and the Nobel Peace Prize was proof of that fact." Yea! let's pass a resolution in favor of Obama as well!! :D
What is her achievements?
@javed: Then why did IK praise Malala. Please stop idiotic comments. Many Thanks.
@javed: The resolution was passed a few days back. PTI is more concerned for the women of Pakistan who have been kidnapped by USA like Aafia Siddique rather then Malala who got hit by a bullet and then got super hit.
PTI is basically a cowered party ,they cant pass the said resolution in KPK assembly.They are scared of militants and extremest elements.