National Assembly session: PPP, PML-N lawmakers spar over Kalabagh dam

MNA Khawaja Saad Rafiq denies PML-N’s hand in LHC decision on disputed project.

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz attempted to clarify its stance on the Kalabagh Dam issue, saying that while it endorsed the project, constructing it without national consensus would be “detrimental”.

PML-N’s Khawaja Saad Rafiq provided his party’s stance on the construction of the Kalabagh Dam, as decided recently by the Lahore High Court, in response to sharp criticism by the Pakistan Peoples Party in the lower house on Tuesday.

PPP’s Gul Muhammad Jakharni from Sindh criticised the PML-N and the LHC over the decision, claiming, “It is a conspiracy against the country by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.”

“Although the dam would be beneficial for the country, constructing it without a national consensus would be detrimental,” Rafiq said, denying any PML-N involvement in the court’s decision.

Ahmadi status reiterated

Meanwhile, the government assured a perturbed lawmaker from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) that “Ahmadis” are “non-Muslim” as declared in the 1973 Constitution and that there is no change in policy.

“Ahmadis are non-Muslim,” Defence Minister Syed Naveed Qamar told the National Assembly on Tuesday, clarifying the government’s stance on the subject. “Government functionaries are bound to follow the Constitution and cannot propagate anything against it,” he added.

Qamar was responding to a point of order raised by JUI-F leader Maulana Attaur Rehman, who warned that his party would agitate if the government ignored the issue.



The JUI-F lawmaker had earlier referred to media reports stating that Pakistan’s Embassy in the US had organised an event at the behest of the community (Ahmadis) against a blasphemous film that sparked off protests across the world.

“Are diplomats ignorant of the Constitution or has the government given them a free hand to do whatever they like?” Attaur Rehman questioned.

Amendment deferred

Meanwhile, the lower house deferred an amendment in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, according to which, “Each ministry shall submit its annual budgetary proposals for the next fiscal year to concerned standing committee,” for discussion.

The amendment was deferred after Anusha Rehman Khan from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who had moved the amendment, insisted that its content was different from what she had proposed. The amendment had been passed by the NA standing committee on rules and privileges.

“The proposed amendment was aimed at enhancing the role of parliament but after the changes, its role has been decreased,” she complained, while pleading for a referral to the standing committee to revert the amendment back to its original shape.

At one point, PML-N lawmakers insisted the matter be sent back to the relevant standing committee, while several Pakistan Peoples Party legislators objected to the move, saying the amendment was unlikely to be passed if sent back to the standing committee.

“If [the matter is] sent to the standing committee … then forget about it,” Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2012.