Senate session: ‘Office attacks conspiracy to eliminate PML-N workers’
FATA Senators stage fifth walkout over non-release of development funds.
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate again witnessed pandemonium on Tuesday following accusations that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz offices were burnt by Pakistan Peoples Party workers in Sindh.
PML-N Senator Mushahid-ullah Khan instigated an uproar when he told the house that some PPP workers have planned a “crackdown” against his party in the province.
“It’s a serious conspiracy against the PML-N to eliminate its workers,” he said, adding that the government should appreciate the party’s efforts in flood relief in Sindh, which includes distributing aid in 800 trucks, rather than burning their offices.
This accusation got PPP senators on to their feet. The house resembled a fish market as PPP Senators Saeeda Iqbal, Sabir Baloch, Leader of the House Nayyar Bukhari, Almas Parveen and PML-N Senators Ishaq Dar and Mushahidullah Khan exchanged harsh words on the issue.
“I will adjourn the proceedings if the unruly debate continues,” remarked Senator Ilyas Bilour, chairing the session in the absence of Jan Jamali. Law Minister Maula Bux Chandio tried to lower temperatures: “We condemn the burning of PML-N offices in Sindh. We don’t own the activists targeting political parties’ offices.”
Earlier, during the course of proceedings, Senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) staged a walkout for the fifth consecutive business day.
“(Our protest) is about the miseries of people who belong to Fata,” said Senator Engineer Abdul Rashid. Speaking on point of order, Rashid informed the house that “Rs660 million out of a promised Rs15 billion has been released by the finance managers so far.”
Accountability Bill
PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar urged the government to present the new accountability bill in the Parliament. “Accountability is an imperative for the success of democracy,” he said.
Senators Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party and Azam Khan Swati of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F claimed that they have ample evidence that billions of rupees that were embezzled in the National Highways Authority.
“I myself will appear with evidence against corrupt officials in accountability courts,” claimed Swati, who recalled his efforts to eliminate corruption in the religious affairs ministry.
Responding to their points, Nayyar Bukhari said that the government believes in accountability and condemned corruption at any level. “There are laid-down procedures for inquiry against anyone and the required procedures should be adapted to initiate cases against corrupt officials,” he said.
IMF loans
PPP Senator Safdar Abbasi said that the government should not take loans from the International Monetary Fund. “Stop rampant corruption in the country to strengthen the institutions instead of selected personalities,” said Abbasi.
Criminal Law Amendment Bill
The Senate also referred the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2011 to its committee on law and justice, which will go through the bill and introduce the amended version on November 4. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain presented the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.
The Senate again witnessed pandemonium on Tuesday following accusations that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz offices were burnt by Pakistan Peoples Party workers in Sindh.
PML-N Senator Mushahid-ullah Khan instigated an uproar when he told the house that some PPP workers have planned a “crackdown” against his party in the province.
“It’s a serious conspiracy against the PML-N to eliminate its workers,” he said, adding that the government should appreciate the party’s efforts in flood relief in Sindh, which includes distributing aid in 800 trucks, rather than burning their offices.
This accusation got PPP senators on to their feet. The house resembled a fish market as PPP Senators Saeeda Iqbal, Sabir Baloch, Leader of the House Nayyar Bukhari, Almas Parveen and PML-N Senators Ishaq Dar and Mushahidullah Khan exchanged harsh words on the issue.
“I will adjourn the proceedings if the unruly debate continues,” remarked Senator Ilyas Bilour, chairing the session in the absence of Jan Jamali. Law Minister Maula Bux Chandio tried to lower temperatures: “We condemn the burning of PML-N offices in Sindh. We don’t own the activists targeting political parties’ offices.”
Earlier, during the course of proceedings, Senators from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) staged a walkout for the fifth consecutive business day.
“(Our protest) is about the miseries of people who belong to Fata,” said Senator Engineer Abdul Rashid. Speaking on point of order, Rashid informed the house that “Rs660 million out of a promised Rs15 billion has been released by the finance managers so far.”
Accountability Bill
PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar urged the government to present the new accountability bill in the Parliament. “Accountability is an imperative for the success of democracy,” he said.
Senators Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party and Azam Khan Swati of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F claimed that they have ample evidence that billions of rupees that were embezzled in the National Highways Authority.
“I myself will appear with evidence against corrupt officials in accountability courts,” claimed Swati, who recalled his efforts to eliminate corruption in the religious affairs ministry.
Responding to their points, Nayyar Bukhari said that the government believes in accountability and condemned corruption at any level. “There are laid-down procedures for inquiry against anyone and the required procedures should be adapted to initiate cases against corrupt officials,” he said.
IMF loans
PPP Senator Safdar Abbasi said that the government should not take loans from the International Monetary Fund. “Stop rampant corruption in the country to strengthen the institutions instead of selected personalities,” said Abbasi.
Criminal Law Amendment Bill
The Senate also referred the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2011 to its committee on law and justice, which will go through the bill and introduce the amended version on November 4. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain presented the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2011.