Walkout from Senate: PPP, ANP protest Centre’s ‘meddling’

Senators say govt’s move infringes on Sindh’s autonomy

ISLAMABAD:

Agitated over the federal government’s decision to reject the Sindh government’s summary over special powers for Rangers, Senators from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) on the opposition benches staged a token walkout of the upper house of Parliament to protest the move.

The federal government on Tuesday had rejected a summary by the Sindh government that gave limited powers to Rangers. Instead, the interior ministry issued a notification restoring powers of the paramilitary force.

“What is so wrong if the Rangers have to seek permission from the chief secretary (Sindh) before arresting any government official?” asked PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar.

Warning that it may pit the federal and provincial governments against each other, Babar stated that the centre’s move infringed upon Sindh’s autonomy and was tantamount to interference in its internal matters.

Earlier, Senator Saeed Ghani spoke on a point of order and said that the PPP fully supported the Karachi operation and had been closely working with the paramilitary Rangers to eliminate terrorism and sectarianism in Karachi. However, an impression was being created that the provincial government sympathised with terrorists.

ANP’s Shahi Syed backed the PPP and condemned federal government’s move. The PPP then announced a walkout from the upper house.

Spying on data

Winding up discussion on an adjournment motion regarding spying on communication data of Pakistan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said they had conducted an inquiry in this regard. Ahmed told the Senate that they had not found any evidence of data being snooped.

Four resolutions

Three resolutions introduced in the house were unanimously passed. These included a resolution introduced by Hafiz Hamdullah that all state policies and laws be based on the law and principles provided by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in his last sermon.

A resolution on wishing Christians a Merry Christmas by the Senate was also passed.  Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed moved a resolution to pay rich tribute to the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The house also unanimously adopted another resolution moved by Khalida Parveen which paid tribute to slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Senate chairman Raza Rabbani referred the Gas (Theft Control and Recovery) Bill, 2014 to a joint sitting of the parliament for discussion and approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.