Debate on threats to democracy continues in NA

PTI's Shafqat Mahmood defends party; says raising a voice should not be considered a threat.

ISLAMABAD: Friday’s session of the National Assembly, meant to discuss the recently announced budget, swiftly veered off topic, with a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz requesting the speaker to continue yesterday’s discussion on the threats to democracy.

PML-N MNA Sardar Mansab Ali Dogar, on Friday, request the NA speaker to continue a debate on the issue taken up by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Thursday.

Addressing the house, Achakzai had called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah and former president Asif Ali Zardari join hands and stave off any danger to democracy. He also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Imran Khan, asking him to  pay attention to governance instead of holding public rallies, and Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri.

In regards to Dogar’s request, however, PTI's Shafqat Mahmood questioned the government’s reluctance in bringing transparency in its affairs and accused the PML-N for always creating problems between institutions.

Mahmood pointed also out that democracy can be strengthened through election reforms. Raising a voice for [our] rights should not be considered a threat to the [democratic] system, he argued.

Furthermore, the PTI MNA added that politics of heredity, in fact, posed as a threat to democracy.

While addressing Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman, he said that the prime minister was unavailable to cabinet member and claimed that it would take them three to six months to get approval for developmental projects from him.

This isolated leadership, he added, can be considered a threat to democracy.

Meanwhile, in the same vein as Achakzai, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party demanded that Qadri be repatriated as soon as he lands in Islamabad from Canada.

Furhermore, Muzzamal Hussain Queeshi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement called for a ban on sheesha cafes and for the federation to enhance its jurisdiction in tax collection mechanis