End to sit-in: PAT’s move gives Senate reason to cheer

Senators warn govt against thinking the political crisis is over

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) decision to end its 67-day sit-in gave the Senate something to cheer about on Wednesday. But as the upper house of Parliament applauded the role of ‘democratic forces’, it cautioned the government against thinking the crisis was over.

“Thankfully, PAT has started to wind up its sit-in,” Senator Mola Bakhsh Chandio from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said while talking about PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s ‘dangerous’ speeches and instructions to his workers. Most of the other senators who spoke out during the brief debate belonged to PPP as well.

Chandio then expressed good wishes for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) saying that while party chief Imran Khan had them worried, they “wish that the young leaders [of PTI] will also leave peacefully.”

At the same time, the PPP senator cautioned the government, saying the political crisis wasn’t entirely finished yet. “You can see everyone busy preparing for mid-term elections… the government should not embarrass those who supported it in difficult times,” he said.

Chandio also censured Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for not attending Senate sessions and said “I know your government does not care about small provinces, but the prime minister should not neglect the Senate, which has representation from all provinces.”

Former interior minister Rehman Malik was quick to pay tribute to PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari. “PPP has always stood for democracy and the credit must go to Asif Zardari who led like a real statesman.” He added that he would reveal some ‘startling information’ about the protests in the capital at a later date.

Dr Abdul Qayoom Soomro felicitated Parliament for saving the democratic system and said “the sanctity of Parliament has been restored.” Afterwards, Soomro asked the government, as representative of the entire house, to revisit its decision of not issuing development funds to senators.

Meanwhile, journalists staged a token walkout from the press gallery against a bill recently introduced by Senator Farhatullah Babar regarding powers, immunities and privileges of parliamentarians for its anti-media laws.

According to the details, Chapter VI of the proposed bill deals with publication of debates and proceedings of the parliament and section 20 reads “The Presiding Officer may prohibit the publication of the proceedings of Parliament of any day or any part thereof.”

The Awami National Party (ANP) and ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) assured the house that they “will not let any law against the freedom of media pass.”

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl’s Hafiz Hamdullah endorsed the view but pointed out the role of some media outlets during the sit-ins in Islamabad. He also complained that while caricatures of politicians were common, generals and judges were usually exempted from such depictions.

Earlier during the proceedings, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the Electoral Reforms Committee should also take into confidence political parties which were not represented in the House.

Talking about Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, he said that in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court, a permanent Pemra chairman should be appointed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2014.