In Senate, PTI raises issue of raids

Opposition Leader in the Senate Shahzad Waseem on Tuesday, while speaking in the House, raised the issue of police raids on PTI leaders’ residences.

“Last night, police raided the homes of PTI leaders and activists,” he said, adding that even their children were manhandled.

“These fascist tactics are not going to take the country forward. Where are those who speak of the law and human rights activists?”

Waseem pointed out that the residence of Senator Waleed Iqbal, the chairman of the Human Rights Committee, was raided. “Peaceful protest is the right of every citizen of this country.”

He added that a parliamentarian could not be arrested without the permission of the speaker. “In our [PTI’s] time, their [the current rulers’] march was completely facilitated, but now they are committing the worst form of state terrorism,” he claimed.

He noted that the agenda of the day included electoral reforms.

“This has only one objective -- to deprive overseas Pakistanis of their right to vote.”

The leader of the House Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar replied that that where was the PTI government when incumbent Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah was charged with drug offenses when he was in the opposition.

“Where was their [PTI leaders’] conscience when [PML-N Vice President] Maryam Nawaz was arrested?”

Referring to the PTI’s long march on May 25, Tarar said no group would be allowed to invade the federal capital under any circumstances.

He added that law enforcement agencies would use their powers in accordance with the Constitution and law.

He claimed that the election reforms bill was bulldozed in parliament and the opposition’s recommendations to the standing committee were sidelined.

The opposition leader expressed his disappointment over Tarar’s reply and said the PTI had planned no invasion of the federal capital.

“You carried out an armed operation in Model Town [Lahore]. In protest against the arrest of our activists, we are staging a walkout.”

On June 17, 2014, 14 people were killed and over 100 suffered injuries when the police opened fire on Pakistan Awami Tehreek activists during an anti-encroachment operation outside the residence of party chief Tahir ul-Qadri in the neighbourhood of Model Town, Lahore.

Senator Yousuf Raza Gilani, on a point of objection, said weren’t PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shehbaz Sharif, daughter Maryam Nawaz and PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari arrested?

He added that the PTI could not dictate them on when the elections would be held.

Referring to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Gilani said the man who spoke about playing till the last ball uprooted the wickets and ran away.

“As long as the BAP [Balochistan Awami Party] was with them [PTI], they were nice and everything was well. Now that it [BAP] is no longer an ally of the PTI, it has been dubbed as traitors.”