K-P lawmakers unanimously pass resolution against Indian intrusion

Opposition parties protest against govt’s attitude even as two bills passed

PESHAWAR: Both sides of the aisle in the provincial assembly on Tuesday set aside their many differences and unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the intrusion of Indian aircraft across the Line of Control (LoC) and lauded the timely response of Pakistan’s security forces.

Two bills were also passed during Tuesday’s session which was later adjourned indefinitely.

The resolution was moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Liaquat Ali Khan. It stated that the armed forces gave a befitting reply to the Indian aggression with full might.

It added that the federal government should summon the Indian Ambassador and lodge a strong protest over the so-called attack and inform the Indian government in clear words if any misadventure was carried out in the future, the Pakistan government would reserve the right to give a strong response.

The resolution further stated that Pakistan is a peaceful country and wants to have friendly and harmonious relations with its neighbours.

“If any neighbour tries to put into jeopardy our national solidarity and sovereignty, then Pakistan has all the potential to meet any such eventuality and our history is a testimony to this effect.”

Taking to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly floor, Leader of Opposition and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) lawmaker Akram Khan Durrani said that Pakistan was capable of giving a befitting reply to any foreign aggression. However, he added that Pakistan was a peace-loving country and any misadventure against it would be repulsed.

“The entire nation was united on one page for the integrity and solidarity of the country.”

Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Nighat Orakzai condemned the attack and said that it was a political stunt by the Indian government which was going to the polls in a month’s time.

She added that the entire nation was backing the government and the armed forces for the defence of their country.

“Kashmir is an integral part of Pakistan,” she added.

Awami National Party (ANP) Parliamentary Leader Sardar Hussain Babak said that India should avoid polluting the peaceful environment of the region, adding that the airspace violation was just for political point scoring ahead of elections in India.

Deputy Speaker Mahmood Jan said that India cannot suppress the legitimate struggle of Kashmiris through such acts of cowardice.

Parliamentary Leader of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha paid tribute to Pakistan army for their timely response to the intrusion.

Opposition protest

After displaying some unity, the opposition resorted to protesting against the government during Tuesday’s session.

Members of the opposition parties surrounded the chair of the K-P Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani over the governments’ policies.

Durrani said that the PTI had promised to create some 10 million jobs. Instead, he complained that K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was talking of cutting the development budget apart from rumours that as 3,000 posts in the province could be abolished.

“I want to stress that we will not allow the jobs to be cut,” Durrani stated.

ANP’s Babak complained that the government was ignoring the political opposition and that it did not give any importance to motions introduced by the opposition parties. He stated that this behaviour of the government was not correct.

The opposition parties then protested against the ruling party and gathered in front of the speaker’s chair.

With the opposition members chanting loudly, Speaker Ghani raised the volume of his microphone and proceeded with the session, passing the K-P Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the K-P Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019.

During the question and session hour in the assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Aurangzeb Nalotha raised concerns regarding the Galiyat director general’s appointment. After an extended argument over the matter, the house was asked to vote on whether the matter should be referred to the relevant committee of the assembly.

The government members, though, opposed the idea with K-P Law Minister Sultan Khan stating that the official had been appointed on merit and that all rest houses of the government will be opened for tourists.

Mic shut

During Tuesday’s session, when Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader Sher Azam Wazir tried to speak, Ghani slammed refused to grant him permission claiming that the lawmaker had used non-parliamentary language.

Referring to some comments made by Wazir in Pashto on Monday, Ghani said that since he did not know the language, he did not immediately pick up on what Wazir had said, but when he was later told what it meant, he was deeply hurt by what had been said.

He directed to have Wazir’s mic shut until he apologized for his disparaging comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2019.