In unison, Senators criticise Dr Qadri’s ‘million-man march’

Treasury and opposition benches claim MQI agenda is unconstitutional.

ISLAMABAD:

Thursday’s Senate session was historic — unlike most days, Senators from both the treasury and opposition benches stood together and opposed one common theme.

Senators lambasted Minhajul Quran International’s (MQI) “million-man march” terming it “an attempt to stop the smooth transition of power through transparent elections”.

Speaking at a point of order, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Senator Raza Rabbani criticised MQI chief Dr Tahirul Qadri who according to the senator was “blatantly violating the Constitution of Pakistan”.

The senator lashing out at Dr Qadri said that the MQI leader was unaware of the electoral reforms under Articles 224 (1) A, 222 and 264. “In order to save the state elections should be held in time,” he said.

“Under the garb of [the so-called] reforms you [Qadri] are blatantly violating the Constitution.

“Is he [Qadri] teaching us to violate the Constitution? Zia and Musharraf’s era has gone when caretaker governments ruled over the country,” declared Rabbani. “This is all drama in the name of Constitution.”

Rabbani stated that under the 18th Amendment the power to elect the caretaker government was held by the leader of the government and the leader of the opposition and only if a consensus could not be reached, a special committee was to be formed.



Supporting Rabbani’s views another PPP lawmaker Senator Saeed Ghani observed that Dr Qadri was trying to create “confusion by brainwashing people”. The senator urged the judiciary to clarify its stance over Dr Qadri’s insistence of the judiciary and army playing a specific role in installing an impartial caretaker set-up.

Reiterating the government’s stance, Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the government was being pressurised from all fronts — while some were asking the government to hold the elections on time, others were hindering the process. “It’s time we figure out who the real enemy of the country is. It is someone within the state or outside it,” he asked.

Senators from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Awami National Party (ANP) also expressed similar views about the MQI leader. Senator Zahid Khan said that a person who is pressuring the government to install a caretaker set-up should not be empowered. PML-N Senators were of the view that Qadri’s programme to turn Islamabad Pakistan’s Tahrir Squire on June 14 was “conspiracy against democracy”.

Following the criticism, only Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Tahir Mashhadi came to Dr Qadri’s rescue. He requested the Senate chairman to expunge uncivilised remarks against the MQI chief, saying that it was a general tradition set by this house that one should not pass remarks against a person who cannot defend himself in Parliament.

Journalists stage walk-out

Meanwhile, the journalist community recorded a protest over MQM leader Altaf Hussain’s remarks against media persons and refused to cover the proceedings.

In response to the walk-out, MQM Senator Mashhadi tendered an unconditional apology on behalf of his party leadership.

The house will resume its business today (Friday) at 4pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.