ISLAMABAD:
Stepping up pressure on the government, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) declared that the party would categorically oppose policy decisions, including any shift in foreign policy, if they are not discussed in Parliament.
“We will not accept any policy which is not discussed in Parliament,” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters at the Parliament House.
Responding to a query regarding the PML-N’s point of view on the country’s current foreign policy, Nisar said: “It would become meaningful only if it is discussed in Parliament.”
The leader of the opposition said that the government should stop imposing decisions taken at the presidency alone.
Nisar also reminded the government regarding its announcement of convening a joint session of Parliament saying “Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had made a commitment but there has been no implementation”.
Earlier, PM Gilani had said that the government will take representatives of the people into confidence in the wake of the Nato attack and memogate scandal after Aushara.
“The prime minister may have forgotten his words but the people of Pakistan remember the commitment he made,” stated Nisar.
He said: “It seems that the government is shying away from its announcements.”
He revealed that the PML-M will highlight this issue in the National Assembly, which is going to meet here today (Thursday).
“No parliamentary committee can substitute the significance of a joint session,” he added.
Taking a jibe at PTI
The PML-N leader also responded to the statements of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan about ‘assets declarations’ and said: “Imran should learn the ethics of politics and should not hold media trials by hurling baseless allegations.
“Please have some patience and learn to control yourself while making political statements, otherwise we will tell the truth about your self-righteousness to the nation,” he said referring to Imran.
Nisar invited the PTI chief to establish an impartial commission including Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed (who belongs to the PTI) to decide the issue of asset declaration, if “he (Imran) did not want to settle the issue in courts”.
“The PTI has become a recruiting ground for all the turncoats and leaderless politicians from the Musharraf era,” alleged Nisar.
Meanwhile, the Senate deferred its question hour due to the absence of ministers to respond to the queries of the members.
Earlier in the day, Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza accepted the resignation of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan from the office of the chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with immediate effect.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2011.
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