Lawmakers pay homage to late Hasil Bizenjo

Senate passes condolence resolution; NA speaker says NP leader was a promoter of parliamentary traditions

ISLAMABAD:

Both the houses of parliament on Friday dedicated their maiden sessions of the new parliamentary year to veteran parliamentarian from Balochistan and leader of the National Party (NP), Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, who passed away in Karachi on Thursday.

Members of the National Assembly and the Senate paid rich tributes to late Bizenjo for his unwavering commitment to democracy and his politics of principles. The Senate also passed a condolence resolution in memory of late Bizenjo.

The Senate session, chaired by its Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, offered Fateha for the departed soul. “Pakistan, and especially Balochistan, has lost its great leader. Today’s meeting will be a condolence meeting,” the chair ruled.

Senator Pervez Rashid of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that Mir Hasil Bizenjo was a proponent of freedom movements and peace. “The principles for which Bizenjo fought would always be remembered,” he added.

Referring to the failure of the no-confidence motion against the Senate chairman, where Bizenjo was the opposition’s candidate for the post, Rashid said, “Fourteen people from my ranks were unfaithful to Bizenjo and I am ashamed of it and I apologise to my late friend today.”

Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said that late Bizenjo always did politics of principles and democratic system. “The state has to think about whether one death will silence our voice. If the federation is to be saved, dialogue among institutions must be promoted.”

Senator Sherry Rehman said that Bizenjo never believed in expediency. “He always stood firm for democracy and his ideology.”

PML-N’s Pir Sabir Shah said late Bizenjo persevered and upheld the principles of democracy.

Senators Mushahid Sayed, Azam Swati, Usman Kakar, Mushahidullah Khan, Barrister Saif, Maulana Ataur Rehman, Sarfraz Bugti, Rehman Malik and others also spoke on the occasion. A condolence resolution was moved by Raja Zafarul Haq which was passed unanimously. Later, the session was adjourned.

National Assembly

In the lower house session, chaired by Speaker Asad Qaiser, the government and the opposition parties acknowledged the sacrifices of late Bizenjo for the protection of the democratic system in the country.

PML-N’s Khawaja Asif said that Bizenjo was a strong voice for democracy and human rights. He added that his speeches in this house were memorable.

Raja Pervez Ashraf of the PPP said that Bizenjo was a high-profile personality and a principled politician of the country.

Kashmir Committee Chairman Shehryar Afridi while paying homage to late Bizenjo said that he always spoke the truth. “Mir Hasil Bizenjo used to speak about provincial rights without mincing words but never questioned the integrity of Pakistan,” he added.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari said that late Bizenjo had fought for democracy for a long time. “He was a strong voice for the rights of Balochistan. Along with his sacrifices for democracy, his attitude was also democratic. He always spoke in a democratic manner.”

Speaker Qaiser said that Mir Hasil Bizenjo was a great personality. He spoke in a fully democratic manner about the rights of the people of Balochistan and promoted parliamentary traditions. Later, the National Assembly session was adjourned till 4pm on Monday.