PML-N to boycott presidential address debate till Gilani's resignation

Raza Rabbani requests PML-N lawmakers in Senate to follow constitution, express views on president's speech.

ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday boycotted the debate on President Asif Ali Zardari addressing both houses of the parliament and refused to take part until Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani resigned from office.

“We will not participate in the proceedings till Gilani’s resignation,” said PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah. He asked the senate chairman to follow the constitution and not start a debate on the president’s address to the parliament till the matter of the prime minsiter’s conviction was solved.

The motion was moved by Law Minister Farooq H Naek saying, “This House (Senate) expresses its deep gratitude to the President for this address to both Houses assembled together on March 17.”

As PML-N staged a walk-out for an indefinite time period, PPP Senator Raza Rabbani requested their lawmakers to participate in the debate as it was a constitutional matter. “The PML-N should follow the constitution and express their views on the president’s speech.”

Taking part in the debate, Awami National Party Senator Afrasiab Khattak lauded the services of the president and termed him “a man who loves democracy.”


PML-N continues National Assembly protest

Severe protesting by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) against Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani compelled deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi to indefinitely postpone the National Assembly session on Friday.

Issues on the day’s agenda, including PML-N’s own resolution regarding formation of new provinces, could not be discussed due to their protests and chants of ‘go Gilani go’, whereas the National Human Rights Commission Bill 2012 was passed during the session which lasted only 30 minutes.

Abid Sher Ali, Hanif Abbasi, Shakeel Awan, Khwaja Asif, Captain Safdar and Ahsan Iqbal were among notable members of the party who actively participated in the protest.

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