IB’s alleged list is fake: PM tells NA
Assures lawmakers a probe into the list has been started by IB, Pemra
PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has told the National Assembly that the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) memo identifying 37 lawmakers for having alleged links to proscribed outfits is a forgery and that an investigation has been initiated to find out who circulated it.
The ‘IB notification’ stated that the PM’s office in July this year had directed the authority to monitor the activities of 37 legislators, mostly from the ruling PML-N, due to their alleged links with banned terrorist and sectarian outfits.
In a policy statement given before the lower house of the parliament, the premier on Monday said privilege of lawmakers named in the document was breached.
“Action in this context is required and the government is of the view that this matter should be sent to the privilege committee of the house for required action,” he said. The premier said the IB had never compiled any such report as the PM office had never even asked the civil intelligence agency for any such thing.
PM moves to allay MPs fears over ‘bogus’ list
"The IB released a statement the very next day, after the list went viral, and said the document was forged," the prime minister said, adding, "These documents are forged and there's no truth behind it. We are now concerned with who actually forged it."
The premier said after the incident, the IB was asked to register an FIR against the forgers and an FIR was later registered at a police station in the federal capital.
“Pemra [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] and the IB are jointly investigating the matter. Members whose names were on the list have been asked to file complaints with Pemra regarding the incident. The people deserve to know the truth," added the premier.
Earlier, PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while discussing the IB’s alleged list, said the government registered a case against an anchor of a private TV channel to suppress the voice of the media.
“The media plays an important role in promoting democratic norms and registering a case against a channel is against the democratic traditions. The government should, therefore, explain its viewpoint on the issue,” he said.
When proceedings of Monday session started, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah strongly criticised the government for the low attendance of lawmakers on the treasury benches.
He said during the past four years, the government has regularly failed to meet quorum as treasury members do not want to attend sessions.
Complicity with Sharif: PTI to agitate IB chief’s role in parliament
“The present federal government comprises a record 58 ministers. Once I had said that the opposition would not point out quorum if just the 58 ministers attended proceedings.
“I have been protesting against this state of affairs since day one. I think the government should now change the rule so that proceedings can continue when even a single MP is present,” Shah said bitterly.
“Shah Sahab has extended a very good proposal,” responded Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed, on a lighter note. He later assured the opposition that the government would bring improvement in attendance of its lawmakers.
In response to a calling attention notice moved by an MQM lawmakers regarding recent hike in petroleum prices, PM Abbasi defended the government’s decision.
He said petroleum products’ prices are set every month and they are linked with the international prices. “Despite being an oil-importing country, the prices of petroleum products in Pakistan are still among the lowest in the world,” he said.
PML-N’s Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, who was attending the session after getting bail in the NAB from an accountability court, spoke extensively about the controversy surrounding the declaration of Khatm-e-Nabuwat in nomination papers. He said that armed forces personnel and judges should also declare that they believe that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Messenger of God.
He also demanded withdrawing the decision to name a department of Quaid-e-Azam University after Pakistani’s first Nobel Laureate Dr Abdul Salam – an Ahmadi.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has told the National Assembly that the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB) memo identifying 37 lawmakers for having alleged links to proscribed outfits is a forgery and that an investigation has been initiated to find out who circulated it.
The ‘IB notification’ stated that the PM’s office in July this year had directed the authority to monitor the activities of 37 legislators, mostly from the ruling PML-N, due to their alleged links with banned terrorist and sectarian outfits.
In a policy statement given before the lower house of the parliament, the premier on Monday said privilege of lawmakers named in the document was breached.
“Action in this context is required and the government is of the view that this matter should be sent to the privilege committee of the house for required action,” he said. The premier said the IB had never compiled any such report as the PM office had never even asked the civil intelligence agency for any such thing.
PM moves to allay MPs fears over ‘bogus’ list
"The IB released a statement the very next day, after the list went viral, and said the document was forged," the prime minister said, adding, "These documents are forged and there's no truth behind it. We are now concerned with who actually forged it."
The premier said after the incident, the IB was asked to register an FIR against the forgers and an FIR was later registered at a police station in the federal capital.
“Pemra [Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority] and the IB are jointly investigating the matter. Members whose names were on the list have been asked to file complaints with Pemra regarding the incident. The people deserve to know the truth," added the premier.
Earlier, PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while discussing the IB’s alleged list, said the government registered a case against an anchor of a private TV channel to suppress the voice of the media.
“The media plays an important role in promoting democratic norms and registering a case against a channel is against the democratic traditions. The government should, therefore, explain its viewpoint on the issue,” he said.
When proceedings of Monday session started, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah strongly criticised the government for the low attendance of lawmakers on the treasury benches.
He said during the past four years, the government has regularly failed to meet quorum as treasury members do not want to attend sessions.
Complicity with Sharif: PTI to agitate IB chief’s role in parliament
“The present federal government comprises a record 58 ministers. Once I had said that the opposition would not point out quorum if just the 58 ministers attended proceedings.
“I have been protesting against this state of affairs since day one. I think the government should now change the rule so that proceedings can continue when even a single MP is present,” Shah said bitterly.
“Shah Sahab has extended a very good proposal,” responded Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed, on a lighter note. He later assured the opposition that the government would bring improvement in attendance of its lawmakers.
In response to a calling attention notice moved by an MQM lawmakers regarding recent hike in petroleum prices, PM Abbasi defended the government’s decision.
He said petroleum products’ prices are set every month and they are linked with the international prices. “Despite being an oil-importing country, the prices of petroleum products in Pakistan are still among the lowest in the world,” he said.
PML-N’s Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, who was attending the session after getting bail in the NAB from an accountability court, spoke extensively about the controversy surrounding the declaration of Khatm-e-Nabuwat in nomination papers. He said that armed forces personnel and judges should also declare that they believe that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Messenger of God.
He also demanded withdrawing the decision to name a department of Quaid-e-Azam University after Pakistani’s first Nobel Laureate Dr Abdul Salam – an Ahmadi.