Physics dept or NCP? Naming controversy kept alive in NA

Neither Nawaz nor Imran give respect to parliament: Opposition leader

ISLAMABAD: The matter of renaming of Physics Department of Quaid-e-Azam University kept echoing in the National Assembly on Friday.

Members of opposition benches clarified that it was not National Centre for Physics (NCP) which was renamed. The members also condemned the process of creating confusion over the matter by a section of media which ran stories that it was the NCP which was renamed.

The House on Thursday had unanimously passed a resolution proposing that the Physics Department of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad should be named after Muslim scientist Abu al Fath Abdul Rehman Al-Khazini. It was moved by Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar. The NCP and Physics Department are two different entities.



Earlier in December 2016, Nawaz Sharif led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had proposed to honour the first Nobel laureate physicist of Pakistan, Professor Abdus Salam by renaming the NCP after him. Dr Salam belonged to the Ahmedi community.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Ijaz Jakhrani said that the name of Physic Department of the university was changed through a resolution and there was no discussion of changing the name of the institute, which was named after Dr Salam. He added that his party would never become part of such a resolution (changing name of NCP).

MNA Amir Dogar said that he had inquired from Safdar the current name of the department, which was being renamed after Khazini to which he said that it was currently not named after any person.

Dr Azhar Jadoon of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that they signed the resolution with good intention but a section of media carried false story in this regard.  “We jointly condemned it,” he stated.

Debate on budget marred by low turnout

The sitting of the NA on Friday was marred by low presence of parliamentarians and lackluster debate over the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2018-19.

Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah pointed out towards the empty benches of the government and stated that this practice adopted by the government is humiliating the sanctity of this house.

“Only 18 lawmakers of the government including two or three ministers and just 20 members of opposition are sitting in the House…this is the situation of the government which got 2/3 majority,” he said.

Shah said neither Nawaz Sharif paid respect nor Imran Khan is giving due respect to Parliament. He also advised the government to hold NA session in late hours so that the problem of sleeping of the parliamentarians could be solved. He bitterly asked the government that it would be better to pass the budget at once instead of inviting debate over it.

Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada responded to Shah’s comments and said that there is deterioration in every sphere of life and politics have become the affair of wealthy persons. He added that the real political worker gets no chance over here to become member of parliament.

Speaker NA Ayaz Sadiq issued directives that he would now give two opportunities to the opposition to talk on the budget against one from the government.

Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamaat-e-Islami said that his party has strong reservations on the budget and added that the National Finance Commission is part of the constitution but it has not been revived after 2007.

Tariqullah raised the question if provincial governments present budget for four months, what will be their share in divisible pool from the federal government.  He added that the statistics of tax collection do not present accurate picture and there is a fear of cuts in PSDP program in order to meet the tax targets.

Haji Shah Gul Afridi stressed to increase the exports and the need to improve its relations with neighboring countries. He said that the transport sector is paying taxes to the tune of five hundred to six hundred billion rupees to the national exchequer and it needs a separate platform.  He added that Fata reforms will help spur the development activities in the region.

PTI’s Amjad Ali Khan said that unprecedented loans have been taken during the last five years. He criticized the indirect taxes on the poor of the country. Arbab Ayub of PTI said no funds have been earmarked for the development of Peshawar. He said that federal government did not give any funds to MNAs of another party for development activities.



Chaudhry Khadim Hussain of PML-N said that construction of Kalabagh Dam is the need of the hour and all four provinces should reach the decision with consensus.

Shahida Akhtar of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (JUI) said that inflation has been in single digits but the actual standard of life for the poor has fallen and they are facing hardships to make both ends meet.

MQM lawmaker threatens self-immolation

Syed Waseem Hussain of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) delivered a fiery speech in the NA and threatened to immolate himself if he is not given more time to talk on the issues being faced by citizens in Karachi and Hyderabad.

“I will put myself on fire if I am not given opportunity to talk,” he stated on the floor of the House which led the chair to give him more time. He said that the people of Sindh are deprived of electricity, gas and water. He said nothing has been done for the development of Karachi and Hyderabad.

He strongly criticized the PPP led government in Sindh and said that the citizens belonging to Urdu speaking community are being pushed to deprivation. Hussain said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan is taking sou moto actions over matters of hospitals, milk shops and others but the districts of Sindh are out of focus.

He claimed that next time the chief minister would not be from PPP. The House will now meet again on Monday at 5 pm.