Ministers' absence from parliament irks MPs

Senate debates Nov 26 incident; condemns Israeli atrocities

ISLAMABAD:

The absence of ministers from the National Assembly and Senate sessions on Thursday irritated both opposition lawmakers and coalition partners, who questioned the government's attitude toward parliamentary business.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah announced that he would write a letter to the prime minister regarding the absence of ministers, and he adjourned the session in protest. He also warned that no future sessions would be held in the absence of ministers.

Meanwhile, Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani told the house that when he was prime minister, he attended the Question Hour and answered lawmakers' questions if the relevant minister was unavailable.

He then asked Irfan Siddiqui, the parliamentary leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to suggest how to continue the Question Hour. "According to the rules, we cannot respond to the calling-attention notices," Siddiqui replied. "You can decide what you think is appropriate."

The upper house then resumed its debate on the November 26 incident. The PTI lawmakers in their speeches demanded a judicial inquiry into the November 9 and 26 incidents, and insisted that the party was ready for talks to move forward.

Senator Dost Muhammad Khan said that 278 people were killed during the crackdown on the PTI marchers in Islamabad last month. Senator Jan Muhammad said that the solution to all problems could only be achieved through dialogue.

PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar said that he had come to the house to ask the question: "Our protest in D Chowk was peaceful, so why the bullets were fired?" He proposed to the government to form a 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission'.

Responding to the PTI senators, Siddiqui said that peaceful protest was a privilege but this right had not been unconditional anywhere in the world. He asked the opposition whether a peaceful protest started with the slogans of "do and die" and brandishing weapons and carrying nail-studded sticks.

He said that negotiations could not be held amid the call for civil disobedience. The PTI will have to shun its old ways. If the PTI wants to talk, we are ready, but the PTI will have to restore confidence," he stressed.

Participating in the debate, Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Sherry Rehman said that there could be no unilateral conditions for dialogue. She raised the question that from where the PTI protesters got the tear gas shells.

Senator Falak Naz Chitrali repeatedly interrupted Rehman's speech, which irked her. "When we speak the truth, then we will get angry. We do not run away, leaving the people behind," she retorted. You have attacked the state, the call for civil disobedience is still being given," she charged.

PML-N's Talal Chaudhry said that they (PTI) were asking for negotiations to save [former spymaster] Faiz Hameed. He also referred to the violence on May 9, 2023. "They speak about forgetting May 9, there will no negotiations on that."

Meanwhile, the house passed a unanimous resolution to condemn Israel's expansionist plans. This resolution was moved by Sherry Rehman. She said that the resolution had been signed by all political parties. The resolution said that Pakistan fully supported the Palestinian cause.