LAHORE:
Some PPP members sat on Assembly Chambers steps in their socks as a way of protest on Tuesday but the highlight of the day remained Unification Bloc’s criticism of Veena Malik and India.
The House was scheduled to take up private member issues on Tuesday. The session started with a 40-minute delay. Minister Min Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman answered members’ questions about the School Education Department. Two resolutions were passed during the day.
Sheikh Alauddin, a Unification Bloc member, speaking on a point of order lashed out at Veena Malik for posing nude on the cover of an Indian magazine. He also objected to the Most Favourite Nation (MFN) status granted to India.
Alauddin said that Malik had humiliated the nation, Pakistan Army and the ISI and other Pakistani models by posing with an ISI tattoo on her arm. “Veena is maligning our security institutions and she’s doing this in the name of friendship with India,” he said.
He asked for Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal’s permission to present a resolution against the MFN status the federal government intends to award to India. “During the last two months Pakistan has faced a Rs1.25 billion loss because of India. I can prove it,” Alauddin said.
He said that Pakistan would import around 2,000 items from India while India was reluctant to import even 840 items from Pakistan.
During Alauddin’s criticism of Malik and India, PPP’s Pervez Rafique stood up and said, “Veena Malik is the daughter of the county. She is doing everything in our country’s interest.”
Rafique also condemned Alauddin’s statements on India, “This is the first time the House is hearing that Pakistan-India friendship is not in the interest of the country.” At this, Alauddin remarked, “Malik might be Rafique’s daughter. She sure isn’t the daughter of the nation.”
The speaker intervened and turned down Alauddin’s request to move a resolution.
Earlier, some PPP members staged a walk out from the House to protest farmers’ exploitation by sugar mill owners and a fertiliser shortage.
They then took off their shoes and sat on Assembly Chambers steps. Hassan Murtaza said that the Punjab government was not willing to discuss the farmers’ plight. He said the farmers are yet to be paid for the sugar cane they sold to sugar mills two months ago.
“Most of the mills are owned by PML-N members or their supporters. That is why the government is reluctant to take action against the mafia,” Murtaza said.
The PPP member also criticised PML-Q leaders, who he said were responsible for selling fertiliser in the black market, “Being the senior minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is responsible for the scarcity of fertilizer in the Punjab.”
The proceedings turned raucous when PPP’s Shaukat Basra was stopped from talking about the Sasti Roti Scheme. On a point of order Basra said that he wanted to talk about a newspaper report according to which the scheme had resulted in misappropriation of Rs3.64 billion from government funds. At this several treasury members started speaking. Basra and other PPP members followed suit.
Peace was declared when Rana Sanaullah said that the government was willing to discuss the issue on an agreed date.
“I will bring record of the scheme with me on the day you want to debate this but there can’t be a debate on the issue right now, based on a newspaper report,” the law minister said.
Opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmed asked party members to move a resolution through the House in order to discuss the issue.
“Even though the PML-N went to the Supreme Court relying on a newspaper story, we will follow the procedure,” he said.
Resolutions
Four resolutions were presented before the House, out of which two were passed. PML-N’s Ejaz Ahamd Khan moved a resolution asking that action be taken against fuel stations that cheated the public. Another PML-N member, Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti, moved a resolution asking for drilling in Chiniot for iron ore and other minerals.
Nighat Nasir Sheikh’s resolution asking that the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau be replaced by a another organisation because it was not doing a good job was opposed by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah who said that if there were any flaws in CP&WB rules, they should be amended.
The session was adjourned till Wednesday (today) at 10am.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (25)
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Some guy said here that Pakistan had "got Sania Mirza". The truth is though is that she doesn't live in Pakistan, still plays for India and said she is "proud of her country".
Veena Malik posed for FHM, a lads magazine. She is going to be the lead lady in Swyamvar, a tele serial again targeting adult males. Most advertisements during this soap will be adult male specific, such as sun glasses, watches, pens, shaving creams, time-share holiday plans, cars, etc. Major ad agencies have already circulated detailed concept capsules for this serial and believe me the ad rates are astronomical. If show producers, editors, ad agencies, etc. find Veena marketable in the male entertainment industry then why can't we let her flourish? The adult male entertainment segment in India is massive (probably the largest in the world), but extremely competitive. Shelf life of these models is at best 7-8 years and they need to make the most of it. That a Pakistani dame is giving Indian models a run for their money is in itself a great achievement. Please leave her alone. She is good. Let her concentrate on the job on hand.
The rest of the world must be laughing at Pakistan. We are mired in total jokes - Memogate, Veenagate, etc. When will we focus on the economy?
Now this become a big issue in my country, you may call it VeenaGate.
If its Democracy in your country why are you bothered ...??? If you have theocracy / Religious based Government ... Just take her to the gallows ... Why discuss somebody's personel matter in the parliament ?? unders false pretex ...
Your reactions to these things are much more of a joke than them actually happening.
Our Assembly actually has the time to discuss Veena Malik! For Heaven's sake, open your eyes, dear parliamentarians. People are dying around you from all sorts of problems, none of which is called Veena Malik!
Shame
@sam: "....i am saying she is one of those who are playing with the prestige of our country." Prestige? What prestige?
Is Pakistan's "honour" so shallow that it can be "dishonoured" by one woman? Sometimes political leaders loose sense.
@Parvez & @ Sashayub: guys i didn't say she is the only one stigmatizing the name of our country..i am saying she is one of those who are playing with the prestige of our country.. No one will approve such liberalism or following ones will if it were done by any females from their family..
On a positive note, at least we are note facing any urgent public issues within our country. We are so doing so well that we have nothing but to discuss but the mundane Veena issue.
Oh wait ...
@sam: what are zaid hamid and hafiz saeed doing with the name of the country???
Seriously,
Doesn't the parliament have anything more important to discuss?
I don't agree with her posing nude -- I think it is an idiotic attempt to try to get some attention.
But Veena Malik is NOT representing Pakistan, regardless of what she sticks on her body and where. All she's doing is making a fool of herself. The best thing to do is to ignore her and not not bring the whole silly episode to the newspapers and front pages, thereby giving her the notoriety shy is angling for.
The gentle folk in the Parliament should spend the time spent on Malik on discussion Roti, Kapda, Makan, Corruption, Security and the million other valid topics that really affect the nation.
@Jp: plz go ahead :)
Those whose thinking is limited to blaming Veena Malik for humiliating Pakistan, seriously need to open their eyes look around themselves and listen carefully to the things that are really pulling the name of this country down. Completely agree with @jamil ahmed.
Forget Veena. she will not trouble you anymore. We will give her Indian citizenship. We have no problem with any secular & right minded people
pakistan is humiliated by the religiuos terrorists who blow themselves up killing innocent people.pakistan is humiliated when ever men decide that their honour has been damaged and can only be restored by murdering women.pakistan is humiliated when husbands beat up and torture their wives because the maulvi sahab told thime it's their right to do so. pakistani is humiliated when maulvis perform the 'nikah' ritual for a paedhophile ''marrying'' an underage girl. Pakistan is humiliated by a lot of things,Veena malik is not one of them.
Oh Veens's issue is been discussed in Assembly..
Anyways veena will now be settled permanantly in India.