Senate session: Parties clash over Shahbaz’s remarks
Voices from the floor also call for ‘civilised language’ in the house.
ISLAMABAD:
Condemning Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s recent inflammatory remarks, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senators on Monday asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to cure his “abnormal attitude”.
Sabir Baloch from the PPP castigated Shahbaz in the Senate for using derogatory language against President Asif Ali Zardari at the PML-N rally in Lahore. However, some of his words were expunged by Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali during the course of proceedings.
“Shahbaz Sharif is a fickle-minded person as he has demanded the execution of the custodian of the constitution. Asif Ali Zardari is an elected president and a part of the Parliament,” Baloch said.
He also compared Shahbaz’s diatribe to Henry Kissinger’s remarks against PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, when the US Secretary of State threatened Bhutto after he launched Pakistan’s nuclear programme in 1976-77.
In response to Baloch’s furious speech, PML-N senior leader Raja Zafarul Haq said that Sharif was merely attacking corruption. He added that civilised language should be used on floor of the house.
Haq also alleged that the PPP was behind the attacks on his party’s offices in Sindh. On this point, PPP Senator Salahuddin Dogar dismissed the reports, saying that the PML-N “has no office in the province.”
Walkout over funds
Senators from FATA and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) staged another walkout due to the non-release of development funds for their constituencies. Only Rs660 million out of the promised Rs15 billion have been released by the finance division, Hafiz Rashid Ahmad said. “Attention should be given to tribal areas like other parts of the country,” he added.
JUI-F Senator Azam Swati informed the house that he is introducing a resolution seeking implementation of Article 63 (C) of the Constitution, which disqualifies members of Parliament with dual nationality.
The resolution will also empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to make it obligatory for lawmakers to announce their assets. “Who will follow the laws if the lawmakers break it,” said Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi, who chaired the house session in the absence of Jan Jamali.
Speaking on a point of order, Senator Ali Durrani said the house should pass the accountability bill lying in the Senate for several years. Responding to a point of order by the MQM Senator Haseeb Khan, Leader of House in the Senate Nayyar Bukhari informed the lawmakers that the centre is in consultation with all the provincial governments to establish the Drug Regulatory Authority.
Journalist Protection and Welfare Bill, 2011
The Senate also referred two bills to standing committees. Both bills were tabled by Jamaat-e-Islami and PML-N, with the recommendations of 17 Senators, and seek welfare and protection for working journalists.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan informed the house that the government has already taken a number of steps for the welfare of the journalist community. She said the PM has established funds worth Rs200 million for this purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.
Condemning Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s recent inflammatory remarks, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) senators on Monday asked the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to cure his “abnormal attitude”.
Sabir Baloch from the PPP castigated Shahbaz in the Senate for using derogatory language against President Asif Ali Zardari at the PML-N rally in Lahore. However, some of his words were expunged by Deputy Chairman Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali during the course of proceedings.
“Shahbaz Sharif is a fickle-minded person as he has demanded the execution of the custodian of the constitution. Asif Ali Zardari is an elected president and a part of the Parliament,” Baloch said.
He also compared Shahbaz’s diatribe to Henry Kissinger’s remarks against PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, when the US Secretary of State threatened Bhutto after he launched Pakistan’s nuclear programme in 1976-77.
In response to Baloch’s furious speech, PML-N senior leader Raja Zafarul Haq said that Sharif was merely attacking corruption. He added that civilised language should be used on floor of the house.
Haq also alleged that the PPP was behind the attacks on his party’s offices in Sindh. On this point, PPP Senator Salahuddin Dogar dismissed the reports, saying that the PML-N “has no office in the province.”
Walkout over funds
Senators from FATA and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) staged another walkout due to the non-release of development funds for their constituencies. Only Rs660 million out of the promised Rs15 billion have been released by the finance division, Hafiz Rashid Ahmad said. “Attention should be given to tribal areas like other parts of the country,” he added.
JUI-F Senator Azam Swati informed the house that he is introducing a resolution seeking implementation of Article 63 (C) of the Constitution, which disqualifies members of Parliament with dual nationality.
The resolution will also empower the Election Commission of Pakistan to make it obligatory for lawmakers to announce their assets. “Who will follow the laws if the lawmakers break it,” said Senator Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi, who chaired the house session in the absence of Jan Jamali.
Speaking on a point of order, Senator Ali Durrani said the house should pass the accountability bill lying in the Senate for several years. Responding to a point of order by the MQM Senator Haseeb Khan, Leader of House in the Senate Nayyar Bukhari informed the lawmakers that the centre is in consultation with all the provincial governments to establish the Drug Regulatory Authority.
Journalist Protection and Welfare Bill, 2011
The Senate also referred two bills to standing committees. Both bills were tabled by Jamaat-e-Islami and PML-N, with the recommendations of 17 Senators, and seek welfare and protection for working journalists.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan informed the house that the government has already taken a number of steps for the welfare of the journalist community. She said the PM has established funds worth Rs200 million for this purpose.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.