NA session: Opposition seeks clarity from govt

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition has sought clarity from the government over the impending military operation against the Taliban after the failure of peace talks, but in return was asked to wait for a few more hours.

“Senior parliamentarians are speculating… this is the first day of the National Assembly session. The issue would be taken up in the cabinet meeting on Tuesday [today] and then we will take the house and the nation into confidence,” Science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament on Monday.

The response may have bought the government some time to tell the nation about its plan of action, but it failed to satisfy the inquisitive Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

Rashid boycotted the proceedings, saying, “This is the most important issue and you have to tell us what is happening.” No one from the treasury benches, as per tradition, was asked to bring Rashid, the only member of his party, back in the house.

It was during the eighth NA session when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that the government would give peace another chance, but the subsequent peace process hit a deadlock due to the killing of 23 FC troops claimed by a Taliban faction. The first sitting of the ninth session started with prayers for the troops.



Leader of the opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah from the PPP and Shah Mehmood Qureshi from the PTI assured the government of their support as they sought clarity over the issue. However, Sher Akbar Khan from the Jamat-e-Islami had something different to say.

Khan cautioned the government about the repercussions of an operation as he said, “An operation was launched in Buner too in 2009.” The government should convene another all parties’ conference to take a decision of launching a military operation, he said.

Earlier, Khursheed Shah censured the government saying that the opposition was expecting that the prime minister, who was absent, would give a policy statement. “What reward are we getting out of talks,” Shah questioned, referring to the execution of 23 FC soldiers along with attacks across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2014.