Sherry berates govt for no joint session on Kashmir
Pakistan Peoples Party leader Senator Sherry Rehman has berated the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf for not holding a joint session of parliament on Kashmir Black Day, pointing out that when it can be held for passing the “draconian” FATF laws, “then why not for Kashmir”.
Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, the PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate said, “We were expecting that a special session of parliament would be held to express solidarity with our Kashmiri brothers and sisters on the black day but shockingly this government did not think that it is important to hold one.
Senator Raza Rabbani, Senator Maula Bux Chandio, Senator Sassui Palijo, Senator Dr Sikkandar Mandhro and Senator Rubina Khalid were also present at the press conference.
“When it comes to matters of national importance and security, we all are on the same page. During the PPP’s tenure, we held a joint session for Kashmir. But this ‘namaloom sarkar’ [unknown government] is least bothered.”
Sherry accused the incumbent government of using parliament for its “ulterior motives”. “Our parliament is being insulted and bulldozed by this tabahi sarkar [destructive government].”
Sherry said, “When they [the government] wanted to pass the draconian FATF laws, regular joint sessions were called. Then why not for Kashmir? It would have given a strong statement to the world.
“We spent three months working with our experts on the FATF laws for the greater good of our country and the people.”
She praised her own party, saying that the PPP knows how to get the job done as “we had Pakistan removed from the grey list before but this government is all about theatrics. It is shocking that they are applauding each other despite being on the grey list”.
The senator pointed out that the International Cooperation Review Group had also recommended that Pakistan be retained on the grey list, “given its failure to completely implement the 27-point action plan”.
“The government is so busy focusing on jailing opposition politicians that they are not focusing on other serious issues like taking parliament into confidence and removing Pakistan from the grey list,” she said. “It is not the opposition’s job but despite that all of us are standing together to give hope to our country.”
She advised the government to address serious issues like inflation, soaring food prices, new polio cases, circular debt, load shedding, gas shortage and increased medicine prices to regain and restore the confidence of the people.
She said that there is an anticipated shortage of wheat this year in the wake of a shortfall in the output. “Wheat and sugar are being hoarded and the prime minister’s cronies are benefitting but NAB is just reserved for the opposition. The last PPP government had made Pakistan completely wheat secure.
The senator came down hard on the PM, saying that he appears clueless about the wheat shortage. “Why is he not running the country? If the government is importing wheat to meet the shortfall, why did they export it in the first place? Is any thought and planning going into running this country?” she questioned.