Senate seeks details of reported ‘change’ in Hajj form

Opposition calls for FM Qureshi to explain details of US-Taliban peace deal

ISLAMABAD: The Senate has sought clarification from the religious affairs ministry on the matter of reported omission of oath on Khatm-e-Nabuwat (Finality of Prophet hood) in the Hajj form.

The Senate session was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Sadiq Sanjrani.

As the proceedings started, Opposition Leader Raja Zafarul Haq pointed out toward the reported omission of oath on Khatm-e-Nabuwat in the Hajj form.

The senate chairman sought a report on the matter and called for religious affairs minister to come to the House and deliberate on the issue.

Raja Zafarul Haq also expressed concern over the Afghan president’s recent statement which he had made after the signing of US-Taliban peace deal.

In his statement, the Afghan president had pushed back against a clause in the deal that called for the Taliban to release up to 1,000 prisoners and for the Afghan government to release up to 5,000 insurgent captives.

He had said the clause could be included in the agenda of the intra-Afghan talks, but could not be a prerequisite for talks.

Haq called for FM Qureshi to come to the House and give a detailed briefing on the issue.

Senator Raza Rabbani also noted that the foreign minister should take the Parliament into confidence on US Taliban deal. “The present government is not taking both houses of parliament seriously,” he said.

Senator Shibli Faraz assured the House that the foreign minister would make his presence soon.

Responding to the opposition on inflation and rising electricity prices, Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan observed the people were suffering because of the wrong policies of the past government.

“We have reduced the monthly circular debt from Rs39 billion to Rs14 billion. Nepra had recommended an increase of Rs4.50 per unit but the premier rejected the summary and instead approved Rs1.27 per unit,” he said.

Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar pointed out that the inflation had declined from 14.6% to 12.4%.

“Inflation would come down after the reduction of Rs5 in oil and diesel prices,” he said.