Kerfuffle in Senate over leaked audios

Govt, opposition senators blame each other; house rejects two bills

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition and the treasury benches faced off in the Senate on Monday, with both sides firing broadsides against each other on the issue of audio leaks, involving politicians, an apex court judge and senior police official.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also criticised the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) over delaying the provincial elections and the challenges of terrorism and inflation.

The house, which met here with Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair, rejected two bill regarding amendments to the State Bank of Pakistan Act and Benazir Income Support Act with a majority vote.

Dr Wasim raised the issue of the audio leaks. “It seems the audio-videos are available at wholesale rates for every occasion. It seems that the conversation is manufactured in the factory and released to the market according to the occasion,” he told the hosue.

“[Senior PTI leader] Dr Yasmeen Rashid's audio came. Their conversation was distorted. There are also leaks about the judges. The audio leaks of prime minister's secure line are coming,” he added. “Under which law is this happening?”

Turning to the election issue, the opposition leader told the house the ECP was a constitutional body and its “job is to conduct elections in 90 days” but till now only consultation were taking place.

Stepping up his criticism of the government, the opposition leader said that the defence minister was declaring the country’s bankruptcy and asked where the finance minister was. “Another minister spits fire every day. It's like a circus at the moment.”

Responding to the hard-hitting remarks, Nisar Khuhro of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), reminding the opposition leader of the leaked video of then National Accountability Bureau chairman Javed Iqbal during his party’s government.

“It [opposition leader’s speech] started with that the terrorists attack in Karachi, but turned out to be about the judges, about the video, about the audios,” Khuhro said. “The shameful attack was carried out by terrorists in Karachi,” he added.

“Regarding the audio-video, how many people’s videos were leaked [during the PTI government]? You leaked the video of the NAB chairman,” the PPP senator asked. “If you are the opposition leader, it does not mean you say anything.”

The chair sent two bills, the National Commission for Child Rights Amendment Bill 2023, presented by Zarqa Suhrawardy Taimur, and the Civil Servants Amendment Bill 2023 moved by Hidayatullah, to the relevant standing committees for deliberation.

However, the house did not allow the tabling of two bills -- the State of Pakistan Amendment Bill and Benazir Income Support Amendment Bill by a majority vote of 22-17.

The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022 had proposed to shift the central bank from Karachi to Islamabad. The Benazir Income Support (BIS) Bill sought to link the support amount with inflation.

Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan opposed the bill pertaining to the state Bank Act. He also opposed the bill on BIS Act, saying that it would impact the budget of the federal government.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) moved a motion to discuss the issue of increasing use of alcohol in the country. He said that a survey of the Wall Street Journal revealed that about 10% local population was using alcohol.

Responding to the motion, Minister of State Awan said that appropriate laws existed about the use of alcohol, its import and smuggling. He added that the department concerned was taking appropriate action in case of violation of these laws.

Taking the floor, Tahir Bizenjo spoke about the issues facing Balochistan. He said that Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had claimed to have arrested a woman, Mahil Baloch from near Quetta Satellite Town Park.

Reliable journalists say that she was not picked up from the park, rather she was tortured in front of the children at her house. “Forced disappearance is currently the biggest problem in Balochistan. If Mahil Baloch is guilty then present him before the court.”

Meanwhile, the house unanimously approved PTI Senator Gurdeep Singh’s motion for holding the golden jubilee celebrations with austerity in March in the wake of prevailing economic conditions of the country.

Later, the 325th session of the Senate was prorogued after conclusion of its business. The chair after receiving comments from all the members of the upper house concluded the session.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)