Fawad Chaudhry. PHOTO: INP
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Chairman Safiq Sanjrani on Thursday imposed a ban on entry of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in the upper house of parliament until he apologises for his remarks against key opposition figures during the session on Wednesday.
“On the basis of whatever happened [in the Senate] yesterday, I have come to the conclusion that the information minister should come to the house and apologise.
“Until he apologises, I impose a ban on his entry in the remaining sittings of the current session under rule 13(4) read with rule 264,” said a ruling of the chair issued after Thursday’s session.
Outcry in Senate as Fawad slams PkMAP’s Achakzai
Earlier, all the opposition parties in the Senate staged a walkout against remarks of Fawad Chaudhry against opposition leaders and announced they will continue their boycott till an apology is tendered.
In a heated exchange of words, Chaudhry on Wednesday demanded forming a parliamentary committee to ascertain use of funds running into trillions of rupees by the previous governments.
He had also accused the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai of ‘robbing the country’ and making anti-state remarks. He had said the government had no option but to seek financial aid from abroad due to alleged corruption of past governments.
Speaking on a point of order on Thursday with reference to the minister’s Wednesday’s comments, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq said Chaudhry had breached privilege of the house.
“It is useless to sit in the house under such circumstances. The opposition has decided to boycott house proceedings till tendering of apology by the minister,” he said.
The National Party’s Hasil Bizenjo said opposition will not end its boycott while the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Maula Bakhsh Chandio criticised the minister for ‘vitiating the atmosphere of the house’.
The Awami National Party’s Sitara Ayaz said the government would have to play its role for ensuring smooth functioning of house proceedings. The PPP’s Sherry Rehman said the sanctity of the house was being breached persistently by the treasury.
“The responsible will have to tender apology for smooth functioning,” she added.
Leader of the House Shibli Faraz said ensuring dignity of the house is responsibility of both the treasury and opposition benches and the opposition should also avoid making personal remarks, adding that the government welcomes their criticism on its policies.
Khattak meets Sanjrani
In the wake of the opposition’s walkout, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak met the Senate chairman along with leader of the house and exchanged views on running affairs of the house with cooperation.
Khattak also conveyed to Sanjrani a special message of the Prime Minister Imran Khan and assured him of the government’s full cooperation on behalf of the PM. Sanjrani thanked the PM and said Imran Khan had increased dignity of the house by taking immediate action and sending Khattak.
“It is our collective duty to ensure supremacy of the house and promote democratic culture. The role of the PM in ensuring supremacy of the house is commendable. It is hoped that proceedings of the house will be carried out with cooperation,” said a statement issued after the moot.
Media freedom
Earlier, Shibli Faraz said the government believes in complete independence of media and has no role in the downsizing drive of media persons by their media houses. Responding to the opposition’s remarks, he said the government stands with the media persons.
“The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came into power with active support of the media. Downsizing is a decision of media owners and the government could not be held responsible for that,” he said.
Vowing to eradicate the menace of corruption from society, he said people mandated the PTI for purging the country of corruption. “Treasury will continue raising public interest issues especially corruption as it should not be considered as humiliation to anyone,” he said.
Bilawal not offered PAC chairmanship, says Fawad Chaudhry
Opposition Leader Raja Zafarul Haq said they had no objection to raising corruption issues, but the accountability process must be conducted across the board and should not be opposition-centric.
“There should be a comprehensive system of accountability and the corrupt should be dealt with iron hands. There should be no choice, no favourites,” he added.
SP’s murder
The senators paid tributes to slain Superintendent of Police (SP) Tahir Khan Dawar and eulogised his services for ensuring peace and security of the motherland. They expressed their heartfelt condolences with his family and called for conferring on him highest award in recognition of his sacrifices.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui
The Senate also unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to take concrete measures for repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is incarcerated in the United States for the last 16 years.
The resolution, moved by Senator Talha Mahmood, expressed serious concerns over her continuous detention. It appreciated efforts of the Parliament and parliamentary committee for repatriation of the scientist and asked the government to take up the matter with the US government.
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