Recalling May 12 events: Govt, Opposition Senators stage walkout from the House

ISLAMABAD: Senators from the government and the opposition together walked out of the house on Monday in a token protest over the events of 'black day' May 12, 2007 .

The token protest was called by Awami National Party (ANP) Leader Shahi Syed after Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Raza Rabbani had presented a point of order in the house over the issue.

“Seven years ago today, General Musharraf and his allies shed blood of innocents in Karachi and moved against the Chief Justice,” Rabbani said in his point of order.

“This day is marked as a ‘black day’.”

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that the culprits were walking free before condemning incidents that unfolded on May 12, 2007. Khan added that he himself was caught in the crossfire that day along with Rabbani. He added that it was Shahi Syed and the ANP who saved their lives that day.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member Nasreen Jalil complained that the incident is being portrayed as such as if it was MQM’s fault.

"The reality is there was cross-firing, not just firing from one side," Jalil said.

“There were 42 MQM workers that were targeted that day. There is also proof that firing took place from a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) vehicle,” she said.

Jalil added that otherwise all of the parliamentarians in the house visit the MQM headquarters when they wish.

Other progress:

Despite the drama at the House on Monday, other progress was made as well.

Protection of Cyber Crimes Bill 2014 by Karim Ahmad Khwaja was put forward in front of the Senate.

Also, Bill To Amend Haras sment of Women at the Workplace Act 2010 was also put into motion.

Senator Farhatullah Babar and Afrasiab Khattak moved an adjournment motion in the house that called a judicial inquiry into the murder of advocate Rashid Rehman.

In the adjournment motion, the two senators demanded that all the threats that Rehman had mentioned, should be investigated.

United against anti-democratic force

Speaking during Zero Hour, senators urged all the political parties to firmly stand united to foil designs of the anti-democratic forces, Radio Pakistan reported.

Referring to the remarks of Pakistan Awami Tehrik Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri against parliament and the constitution made during the protesting rally on Sunday, the parliamentarians said that no one could be allowed to desecrate the constitution and the parliament.

Earlier, the Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Ali Baloch administered the oath to newly elected Senator Abdul Qayyum Soomro.

Salaries of government employees

Speaking on a resolution moved by MQM Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Leader of the House Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that salaries of government employees will be increased in the upcoming budget but it will be difficult to disclose the percentage of the increase at this point.

He informed the house that the finance minister has already given his assurance in this regard.

Keeping in view the current price hike, salaries should be increase by at least fifty per cent said Mashhadi.

National Commission on Human Rights

In response to another resolution, Haq assured the house that National Commission on Human Rights will be constituted within a month. He added that the legislative work in this regard has already been done and the consultation process on the commission will soon be completed.

Capacity building of Levies force

Responding to another resolution, the Leader of the House said that rupees forty million will be spent on the capacity building and infrastructure development of levies force in district Malakand.

The force will be equipped with heavy and latest weapons including bullet proof jackets, said Haq.

The House will now meet on Tuesday afternoon at four pm.