Opposition parties stage walkout over Asif’s remarks
Minister refuses to withdraw ‘thief’ comments against PTI rally; reports of shelving Fata reforms package rejected
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday staged a walkout after Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif refused to take back his ‘derogatory’ remark about a recent protest rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) against power outages.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Asif criticised the protest demonstration – led by PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai Wazir in Peshawar on Wednesday – and said: “The protest against Pesco [Peshawar Electric Supply Company] was staged by electricity thieves and led by an electricity thief.”
These remarks created a ruckus in the house, with PTI lawmakers staging a walkout and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah asking the minister to withdraw his statement. However, Asif declined.
Later, the PPP and other opposition parties – including the Jamaat-e-Islami and the MQM – also joined the PTI’s protesting members despite assurances from the chair that the words had been expunged.
FATA reforms shelved indefinitely yet again
The speaker had to suspend proceedings when a PTI lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum. However, the government failed to meet quorum even when the proceedings resumed and the chair prorogued the session for an indefinite period.
Earlier, the lower house adopted an adjournment motion for discussion on recent incidents of unprovoked firing by Afghan forces on Pakistani villages in Chaman. The motion was moved by PPP’s Naveed Qamar and others.
Taking the floor, Khursheed Shah said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) is part of Pakistan and there is no other way but to merge it with K-P.
Referring to media reports that Fata reforms package had been shelved indefinitely, Shah criticised the government for “this unexpected change of heart”.
Shut up or pack up, NA speaker tells independent lawmaker
According to the reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed his party to postpone presenting two proposed legislations – the 30th Amendment bill and Tribal Areas Riwaj Act bill – till his return to the country. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and another government ally, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, had been opposing the reforms package prepared last year by a panel headed by Sartaj Aziz.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, however, rejected the reports as ‘rumours’ and told the house that the government was committed to Fata reforms.
“The prime minister did not issue any directive to me in this connection and there is no pressure of any sort on the PM over the issue. The Fata Reforms Package, comprising 36 points, has been formulated in consultation with all stakeholders,” said Baloch.
The house also passed several bills including the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016; the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017; and the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016 – a private member’s bill – has already been passed by the Senate. The bill will ensure that the government shall formulate and implement a comprehensive programme for protection of judges, members, counsels, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trail of the case.
The opposition parties in the National Assembly on Thursday staged a walkout after Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif refused to take back his ‘derogatory’ remark about a recent protest rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) against power outages.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Asif criticised the protest demonstration – led by PTI MNA Ayesha Gulalai Wazir in Peshawar on Wednesday – and said: “The protest against Pesco [Peshawar Electric Supply Company] was staged by electricity thieves and led by an electricity thief.”
These remarks created a ruckus in the house, with PTI lawmakers staging a walkout and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah asking the minister to withdraw his statement. However, Asif declined.
Later, the PPP and other opposition parties – including the Jamaat-e-Islami and the MQM – also joined the PTI’s protesting members despite assurances from the chair that the words had been expunged.
FATA reforms shelved indefinitely yet again
The speaker had to suspend proceedings when a PTI lawmaker pointed out lack of quorum. However, the government failed to meet quorum even when the proceedings resumed and the chair prorogued the session for an indefinite period.
Earlier, the lower house adopted an adjournment motion for discussion on recent incidents of unprovoked firing by Afghan forces on Pakistani villages in Chaman. The motion was moved by PPP’s Naveed Qamar and others.
Taking the floor, Khursheed Shah said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) is part of Pakistan and there is no other way but to merge it with K-P.
Referring to media reports that Fata reforms package had been shelved indefinitely, Shah criticised the government for “this unexpected change of heart”.
Shut up or pack up, NA speaker tells independent lawmaker
According to the reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had directed his party to postpone presenting two proposed legislations – the 30th Amendment bill and Tribal Areas Riwaj Act bill – till his return to the country. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and another government ally, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, had been opposing the reforms package prepared last year by a panel headed by Sartaj Aziz.
Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, however, rejected the reports as ‘rumours’ and told the house that the government was committed to Fata reforms.
“The prime minister did not issue any directive to me in this connection and there is no pressure of any sort on the PM over the issue. The Fata Reforms Package, comprising 36 points, has been formulated in consultation with all stakeholders,” said Baloch.
The house also passed several bills including the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016; the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2017; and the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Bill, 2016 – a private member’s bill – has already been passed by the Senate. The bill will ensure that the government shall formulate and implement a comprehensive programme for protection of judges, members, counsels, public prosecutors, witnesses and every other person associated with the investigation or trail of the case.