Abbasi refuses to apologise to NA speaker

ISLAMABAD:

In response to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser’s letter seeking an apology from former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi over his misbehaviour, the latter refused to apologise saying: “I only apologise to Almighty Allah and not to anyone else.”

Speaker Qaiser issued a letter to PML-N senior vice president over his misbehaviour and disrespect to the chair during the house proceedings on Tuesday, asking him to apologise with seven days or face action.

According to an official handout issued by the NA Secretariat, “Taking notice of the continuous misbehaviour and disregard of the chair and accepted parliamentary norms, a letter on the direction of the speaker of the National Assembly has been issued to MNA SHahid Khaqan Abbasi under Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the National Assembly (NA) 2007.”

Talking to the media outside the accountability court, Abbasi said, “I apologise to the only One, not to the speaker or anyone else.”

He said that the country's foreign policy, parliament and moral values are on the decline.

On “justice not being served”, the PML-N SVP said the country's accountability system was in front of everyone. “Two days ago in the capital, senior journalist Absar Alam was shot and injured near his home. To this day, no one knows who the assailants were.”

“Suppressing journalism is now not only a matter of threats but also a threat to the lives of journalists,” Abbasi lashed out, adding that just as the economy and foreign policy are declining, “so is journalism”.

The PML-N stalwart vowed to take up the matter in the National Assembly on Friday (today).

Criticising Qaiser, Abbasi said the speaker who did not allow to talk about the honour of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during the session, will also not allow to speak on the freedom of press.

On Covid-19 vaccination drive, Abbasi said the country of 230 million people is having its people vaccinated through charity. To date, he said, the government has “not been able to purchase a single vaccine injection”.

“What is the use of the National Command and Operation Centre, shut it down,” Abbasi demanded of the government. “Pakistan is the only country in the world where people are forced to get vaccinated with their own money.”

Comparing other countries with Pakistan, Abbasi said the world is controlling the spread of the coronavirus while “the cases are on the rise in Pakistan”.

He predicted that the time is not far away when Pakistanis will be banned from travelling abroad.

On Pakistanis standing in lines with their ID cards to get sugar from utility stores and sasta bazaars, Abbasi said that the National Accountability Bureau should call 40% of the country’s sugar producers as it is humiliating.

“NAB was created only for the opposition. We have no fear,” Abbasi said. “What is the fault of the Punjab ministers in the sugar scandal? The real responsibility lies with the prime minister and the federal cabinet.”