Lower house to debate resolution on French ambassador's expulsion on Thursday

Hours after holding “successful talks” with “proscribed” Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the ruling party on Tuesday presented a resolution – in a National Assembly session called in emergency – to hold a debate on the expulsion of the French ambassador over blasphemous caricatures.

When the session started, Amjad Ali Khan – a ruling PTI’s member – took the speaker’s permission to present the resolution though as a private member.

The resolution, condemning the publication of blasphemous caricatures by French magazine Charlie Hebdo in September last year, regretted that the French president encouraged the same which hurt the sentiments of the Muslims across the world.

It called for a debate on French ambassador’s expulsion from Pakistan; efforts to be made to make European countries, especially France, realize the gravity of the issue and a collective effort by all Muslim countries to take up the issue jointly on international forums.

"This house also demands that the state should decide matters of international relations and no person, group or party exert unnecessary illegal pressure in this regard," the resolution read, in a reference to the TLP's violent protests.

It said the provincial governments should allocate specific sites for protests in all districts so that citizens' daily life is not disrupted. It also sought formation of a special committee to deliberate further.

Read more: Govt to table resolution on French ambassador's expulsion today: Rashid

Taking the floor, PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the entire country is unanimous on the issue of Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat – protection of the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Khatm-e-Nabuwwat –the finality of the prophet-hood.

“A unanimous resolution should have been tabled in the house and the government should have taken the opposition on board regarding the session,” he added.

He said the opposition should be given some time to study the draft and suggest any additions so that the resolution could be passed unanimously today and a debate could be started. He also opposed the idea to constitute a special committee to deliberate on the resolution.

However, while responding to Abbasi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan shocked the house when he revealed that the contents of the resolution were approved by the “outlawed” TLP and it was presented as it is before the assembly.

“The government desired a debate on the issue. However, as the resolution is based on the exact discussions held between the government and the TLP and as it is moved by a private member and therefore the government does not plan to make changes to it,” he said.

However, he said, any amendments suggested by the entire house would be incorporated.