Unflinching support to Palestine reiterated
Family and friends carry the coffin of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, as clashes erupted with Israeli security forces, during her funeral in Jerusalem, May 13, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Senate was informed on Monday there was no change in the country’s policy of unflinching support for the Palestinian people, as the house unanimously passed a resolution, condemning Israeli barbarism at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
During a session, presided by Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, the opposition lawmakers raised the issue of a visit by Pakistani expatriates to Israel, reportedly on Pakistani passport, on a point of order.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) said that the house must be taken into confidence about the Pakistanis’ visit to Israel. Dr Shehzad Waseem of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) asked how an official visit to Israel was done on a Pakistani passport.
Responding to the opposition lawmakers, Leader of the House Azam Nazeer Tarar reiterated that there was no change in Pakistan’s policy in support of the Palestine. “We are firmly committed to our principled stance on the Palestine issue and Israel,” Tarar said.
He categorically stated that Pakistan would continue to support the just struggle of the people of Palestine. He said he would dilate on the matter further in the next session after getting complete information from the Foreign Ministry.
About the question as to how a Pakistani passport-holder could travel to Israel, the leader of the house said that making an official statement on a story of the newspaper was not appropriate.
Later, Senator Mushtaq moved a resolution in condemnation of Israeli barbarism at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which was passed unanimously. Another resolution against Islamophobic acts in Sweden was also passed.
During the session, the PTI lawmakers staged a walkout against violence against the party’s long march participants last week. Senator Faisal Javed said that the march was just a trailer.
“If the election date is not announced, there will be another march soon,” he warned, telling the treasury benches that PTI’s deadline to the government for announcing the election date would expire in just two days.
Meanwhile, the house passed ‘The International Institute of Science, Arts and Technology Bill, 2022’, moved by Senator Irfanul Haq Siddiqui. Sharing details of the bill, Siddiqui informed the house that the institute would be established in Gujranwala.
Also senators from the government and opposition benches introduced several bills, which were referred to the committees concerned for further deliberations.
Fawzia Arshad introduced a bill to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), while Rana Maqbool Ahmad introduced a separate bill to amend the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Senator Mushtaq introduced The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said the bill could not be passed by the Senate Standing Committee. It should be handed over to the select committee. He said that the bill related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Senator Fawzia Arshad introduced a bill to amend the West Pakistan Maternity Benefit Ordinance, 1958 [The Islamabad Capital Territory Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2022]. The bill was referred to the relevant standing committee.
Senator Mohsin Aziz introduced two bills: one to amend the Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Act and the other to amend the Control of Narcotic Substances Act. Sadia Abbasi and Walid Iqbal introduced a bill to amend the Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act.
Naseebullah Bazai introduced a bill to amend the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, while Zeeshan Khanzada introduced a bill to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act. Later the house was adjourned because of the lack of quorum.