Senators indulge in crude language in tumultuous session

Govt promises law to create deterrence against sexual assault on women and children

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate session on Friday witnesses the return of harsh language used by the members of the opposition and the treasury against each other.

During the session, chaired by Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani, Senator Ateeq Sheikh of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Senator Mushahidullah Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) traded salvos of personal attacks, which at times escalated to calling names.

The two lawmakers continued attacking each other, despite intervention from the chair, who expunged all the crude remarks. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, also of the MQM-P, termed the commotion disrespectful to the house and said that political criticism should result in personal attacks.

Opposition Leader Raja Zafarul Haq opined that the house rules were not being followed. However, Prime Minister Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that the no discussion could take place in such circumstances. “The environment in the house should be conducive.

Talking about last week’s motorway gang rape incident, Haq suggested setting up a committee of the whole house. Leader of the House Dr Shehzad Waseem said the government would bring a law in parliament to create deterrence against the crime of sexual assault on women and children.

He said the problem of sexual assault had many aspects, including the social conditions, criminal justice system and sentences by courts. There was a need for good police officers and not the people like Rao Anwaar and Abid Boxer, He added, referring to two police officers accused of extrajudicial killings.

Senator Faisal Javed, of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that perpetrators of violence against women should be hanged publicly executed. He added that the statement of PML-N President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif on the motorway incident was inappropriate.

PML-N Senator Musaddiq Malik condemned the statement of the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO). He said that the Lahore police chief was not surprised when the police did not reach crime scene on time but he was surprised why the victim was travelling on the road after midnight.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman expressed concern over reports of increase in the number of sectarian targeted killings. She warned that sectarianism would be detrimental to the country. She added that protection of every individual in the country was the responsibility of the state.

Question Hour

Responding to a question during Question Hour, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood informed the Senate that nine Seerat chairs would be established by the government through the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in different universities.

He added that three Seerat chairs had been established so far on the topics of gender studies in the University of Punjab, Lahore, human rights and justice in the University of Education, Lahore, and global peace in the International Islamic University, Islamabad.

The house also adopted a supplementary resolution, moved by Ateeq Shaikh, to express sorrow and grief over the demise of former Senator Aftab Shaikh of the MQM, who passed away in Karachi on August 29.

The house passed three motions, granting 30-day extension to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for the presentation of its reports on three legislative proposals. The House adopted report of the Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions on its visit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

WITH INPUT FROM APP