Retiring senators call for restoring true democracy

Dar says reengage with US for Aafia’s return

ISLAMABAD:

Senators, who would retire later this month after completing their six-year term in the upper house of parliament in their farewell speeches urged all political parties to adopt a unanimous strategy for restoring true democracy in the country.

In their speeches, the senators raised several issues, such as foreign policy matters, the Kashmir and Palestinian questions, provincial rights and continued incarceration of Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui in a jail in the United States.

Leader of the House, Ishaq Dar, highlighted the government’s plans to reengage with the US government to secure Dr Siddiqui’s return. “This issue will be a priority agenda of the new cabinet. Her sentence could be served in Pakistan,” Dar told the house.

Earlier, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad said that upon his return from a recent visit to the US, he had proposed four political options regarding Dr Siddiqui's repatriation. "I intend to present a letter containing these four political options to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar," Ahmad said.

Ahmad of the Jamaat-e-Islami, asked the upper house to work for the rights of provinces as per Constitution. He urged political parties to bring democracy within their respective structures, and called for a dialogue to take country out of the current crises.

Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad of the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam stressed the need for focusing on foreign policy. He lamented the silence of the Islamic countries on Kashmir and Palestine issues. He also called for pay attention to the issues of the people of Balochistan.

Senator Shaheen Khalid Butt, in his farewell speech, highlighted the issue of overseas Pakistanis and urged the government to resolve them. Sana Jamali urged the political parties to respect the national institutions, and fully support them for the development of country.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that the people of Pakistan had sent them to the parliament for the prosperity and development of the country but unfortunately many things had happened which went against the public and the country’s interest.

Senator Saifullah Abro said that political parties should never close doors for dialogue. “I assure this house on behalf of my party that we are ready to sit with all political parties but only if they concede special and reserve seats allotted to them by Election Commission of Pakistan,” he said.

Senator Azam Nazir Tarar stressed that listening to the viewpoints of other senators in the house was the essence of democracy. Senator Mohammad Akram said that during his tenure he raised the issue of missing persons and development of Balochistan but unfortunately failed to resolve those issues.
Senator Bahramad Tangi of the Pakistan Peoples Party said that every senator should be given freedom for work for strengthening the democratic system. Senators Seemee Ezdi, Kisho Bai and Abida Azeem also addressed the session.