Foreign affairs: Sana rejects Opp’s ‘talking points’ for PM’s India visit
Opposition members protest delay in release of development funds for their areas.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said Sharif was better equipped to decide what issues to talk about. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must focus on issues of core importance with India instead of trade and similar petty matters,” Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid said on Monday regarding Sharif’s meetingwith India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking on a point of order, Rashid said Sharif should discuss the Kashmir issue, the water crisis, Indian intervention in Balochistan, the security threat posed by Indian consulates located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and Indian-funded insurgents in Pakistan. Issues of trade and consultation on small projects should not be prioritised, he said.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said Sharif was better equipped to decide what issues to talk about. “The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf should take stock of its continuing politics of deception and pessimism...instead of delivering on its promises in KPK, the PTI has made its priorities well known,” he said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vast experience and had twice served as premier, said Sanaullah. He had the political savoir faire to decide what was appropriate to discuss with the Indian premier, he said.
It seemed earlier that the opposition had called off their protest that has continued for the past five days in session and quietly attended the question hour session presided over by acting Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Khan Gorchani.
After the question hour, Rashid said the opposition had decided to boycott Monday’s proceedings to register their protest over development projects in their constituencies being ignored. He said if the government did not release development funds for their constituencies, the opposition would not let the upcoming budget session to go smoothly.
He said the financial year had ended but members of the opposition were being humiliated as the development funds allocated for their constituencies were yet to be released, while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued “royal proclamations” to release up to Rs100 billion for various schemes he had initiated.
He said the opposition’s privilege motion regarding participation in district coordination committees had not been taken up yet. He said the DCC, which the government had established, had completely ignored members of the opposition. He said that the opposition would resume its protest from Tuesday and continue it till their demands were finally accepted.
Sanaullah said that the PTI were on a mission to destabilise the country and promote politics of agitation and pessimism. “It is in the spirit of democracy to listen and reply to points of order but this opposition chooses to flee the house.”
He said following the opposition’s demand for funds for development projects in their constituencies, he had arranged a meeting for them with the chief minister. “But the PTI members were not allowed to meet with Shahbaz Sharif.” He said opposition members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Jamaat-i-Islami had called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and they discussed various issues pertaining to their constituencies.
He said members could not claim development funds from the government as a privilege. He said members could only identify certain issues in their constituencies. He said recently the Supreme Court had ruled that a provincial government could only use the amount allocated in the Annual Development Plan. He said the next hearing of the case would be on June 2.
He said that placed the opposition’s protest beyond comprehension.
The treasury members passed the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014 with a majority.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must focus on issues of core importance with India instead of trade and similar petty matters,” Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid said on Monday regarding Sharif’s meetingwith India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talking on a point of order, Rashid said Sharif should discuss the Kashmir issue, the water crisis, Indian intervention in Balochistan, the security threat posed by Indian consulates located near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and Indian-funded insurgents in Pakistan. Issues of trade and consultation on small projects should not be prioritised, he said.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said Sharif was better equipped to decide what issues to talk about. “The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf should take stock of its continuing politics of deception and pessimism...instead of delivering on its promises in KPK, the PTI has made its priorities well known,” he said.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vast experience and had twice served as premier, said Sanaullah. He had the political savoir faire to decide what was appropriate to discuss with the Indian premier, he said.
It seemed earlier that the opposition had called off their protest that has continued for the past five days in session and quietly attended the question hour session presided over by acting Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Khan Gorchani.
After the question hour, Rashid said the opposition had decided to boycott Monday’s proceedings to register their protest over development projects in their constituencies being ignored. He said if the government did not release development funds for their constituencies, the opposition would not let the upcoming budget session to go smoothly.
He said the financial year had ended but members of the opposition were being humiliated as the development funds allocated for their constituencies were yet to be released, while Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif issued “royal proclamations” to release up to Rs100 billion for various schemes he had initiated.
He said the opposition’s privilege motion regarding participation in district coordination committees had not been taken up yet. He said the DCC, which the government had established, had completely ignored members of the opposition. He said that the opposition would resume its protest from Tuesday and continue it till their demands were finally accepted.
Sanaullah said that the PTI were on a mission to destabilise the country and promote politics of agitation and pessimism. “It is in the spirit of democracy to listen and reply to points of order but this opposition chooses to flee the house.”
He said following the opposition’s demand for funds for development projects in their constituencies, he had arranged a meeting for them with the chief minister. “But the PTI members were not allowed to meet with Shahbaz Sharif.” He said opposition members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Jamaat-i-Islami had called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and they discussed various issues pertaining to their constituencies.
He said members could not claim development funds from the government as a privilege. He said members could only identify certain issues in their constituencies. He said recently the Supreme Court had ruled that a provincial government could only use the amount allocated in the Annual Development Plan. He said the next hearing of the case would be on June 2.
He said that placed the opposition’s protest beyond comprehension.
The treasury members passed the Khwaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2014 with a majority.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.