Opposition slams PM’s Saudi trip

MPAs say US President Trump did not even mention Pakistan in his speech at US-Arab-Islamic Summit.

LAHORE: Opposition benches took a swipe at Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif’s trip to Saudi Arabia where he came face to face with US President Donald Trump for the first time.

The two heads of state were attending the US-Arab-Islamic Summit at the King Abdulaziz Conference Centre in Riyadh. They stated that Donald Trump’s speech on the occasion was an attempt to create conflict between Muslim countries.

The absence of several parliamentarians meant that the usually strong response of the treasury benches was missing. The opposition chanted slogans against the prime minster during the speech of Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, the opposition leader.

Raheel Sharif dines with Trump's son-in-law, Saudi prince

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan prorogued the PA session for 10am on Tuesday (today) after the government failed to show the required number of parliamentarians in the house. The lack of quorum was identified and pointed out by the opposition.

Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, on a point of order, said it is regrettable that the terrorist incidents which occurred in India were always discussed, but no light was shed on the attacks in Pakistan. He claimed India was involved in these incidents and also pointed out that Trump did not speak a word about Pakistan, which is a constant target of terrorism.

He said India had been trying to destabilise Pakistan through terror activities in Kashmir, Balochistan, Karachi and other parts of the country.

He said there wasn’t as much as a peep on atrocities committed by Indians on the innocent people of Kashmir. Mehmood said Pakistan should not become part of a specific camp and play a conciliatory role instead.

He said Nawaz Sharif wanted to have a meeting meet with Trump, but was unsuccessful. The opposition leader also slammed the US president for his alleged hypocrisy. He asked under what grounds Trump was speaking about Muslims when it was he who was spreading hate against people of the faith during his election campaign. He said PM should have not joined the moot in Saudi Arabia.



Meanwhile, the opposition benches chanted slogans against PM Mian Nawaz Sharif. The usual mantra of “go Nawaz go” echoed through the opposition ranks.

There was also pandemonium when some legislators were not given opportunity to ask their questions which remained on the agenda after speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan announced the end to question-hour time.



One legislator, Mian Tariq Mehmood, protesting and said he had reached the house on time, but the session did not start according to schedule. He blamed the speaker for starting proceedings late. Meanwhile, independent parliamentarian Ehsan Riaz Fityana walked out of the house for 30 seconds in protest after he was not given a satisfactory reply by Punjab Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The government had also failed to show the required number of parliamentarians on May 19 when the opposition pointed to the quorum. The speaker had to prorogue the session for Monday.

Also, a resolution was also submitted at the PA secretariat on increasing cybercrime. The resolution was submitted by deputy opposition leader Muhammad Sibtain Khan who claimed more than 5,000 incidents were recorded in 2016 and 2017. It was stated in the resolution that only two police stations were set up to control cybercrime in 36 districts of Punjab. It was demanded that these police stations be increased.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.