National Assembly proceedings: Nisar’s remark triggers opposition’s boycott

PPP, PTI incensed at interior minister’s ‘condescending’ tone.

ISLAMABAD:

National Assembly proceedings were marred once again on Wednesday when the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced a boycott after taking exception to a statement made by the interior minister.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, while replying to a query made by Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah, termed the vote verification issue a ‘drama staged by a single party’.

Angered at Nisar’s ‘insulting’ tone, the PPP and PTI announced they would boycott the lower house proceedings until the minister took back his words.

Shah had asked Nisar to explain the handover of the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and clarify his statement about magnetised ink not being used in the May 11 elections.



The interior minister had clarified on Monday that the government was handing over the vote verification issue, not control of NADRA, to the ECP for three months. The proposal was subject to the assent of the commission as well, he explained at the time. PTI chief Imran Khan too clarified that his party was not asking for mid-term elections or blaming the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for alleged irregularities in the voting process.

The opposition leader, however, was absent that day.

Irritated at having to explain the issues once again, Nisar responded to Shah’s query in a critical tone on Wednesday.

“A single party is staging a drama over the verification of votes,” he said while referring to PTI, which has taken the lead in demanding the verification of the thumb impressions of voters in four constituencies.

He told the house the government was ready to set up a committee under a judge to probe the matter, but voiced reservation that up to 60% of the votes polled might not be verified since magnetised ink was not used in the process.

The moment Nisar concluded his speech, members of the PPP and PTI objected to the minister’s use of the phrase ‘staging a drama’.

“Are we puppets that are being moved to stage the drama,” Shah said while demanding Nisar to withdraw the contentious statement. He added that the opposition would boycott the session until the minister took back his words.

Amid calls for the boycott, the interior minister attempted to defuse tensions saying his statement was aimed at the conduct of the party in question outside Parliament House, particularly while interacting with the media.

In response, the opposition leader asked the chair to play a recording of Nisar’s speech to settle the dispute. His suggestion was supported by PTI lawmaker Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

Despite attempts by Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique to calm down opposition lawmakers, PPP and PTI went ahead with their boycott in the absence of an apology by the interior minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2013.