Kashmir dispute: Senate gives a ‘wakeup call’ to world community

The thinly-attended upper house witnessed back-to-back walkouts.

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate on Wednesday gave a ‘wakeup call’ to international community with regards to the longstanding issue of Kashmir and pledged to continue Pakistan’s diplomatic and moral support to the victims of Indian oppression.

“The House reiterates Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, condemns human rights violation by the Indian forces, conveys sympathies to people of Kashmir and pledges to continue diplomatic and moral struggle and urges international community to wake up and play a role,” said a resolution moved by Senator Muhammad Hamza. The resolution was passed unanimously.



Later on the already thinly-attended upper house witnessed two back to back walkouts — on second consecutive day — staged by the joint opposition. Factually incorrect replies to a question related to Islamabad Metro project trigged the first walkout while absence of minister and non-serious attitude of the government resulted in the second one after which the House was unceremoniously adjourned due to lack of quorum pointed out by Maula Baksh Chandio from the Pakistan Peoples Party.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed had to face a barrage of questions about the Metro Bus project for Rawalpindi-Islamabad after he said the project was based on a feasibility report of Asian Development Bank of 2012.

He said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) had been sharing the cost on equal basis — 50 per cent each. The federal government has merely paid additional Rs3 billion, he added. “I am sorry to say the minister has given a factually incorrect answer,” pointed out Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed of PML-Q, who had raised the question on behalf of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain. “The ADB’s study said Metro can be built with a mere Rs4 billion,” he added.

Hussain said that there was no serious thought process involved; the government launched the project all of a sudden without conducting any study on environmental impact. Initially, the cost of the project was Rs34 billion, and then it was revised to Rs40 billion, then Rs54 billion and now the cost has climbed to Rs90 billion. “I have moved the Supreme Court against this project,” he asserted.

Saeeda Iqbal, Saeed Ghani and other Senators endorsed the views that visibly enraged Sheikh Aftab, who had to face tough questions of the opposition. He said, “I am hurt to hear what these Senators are saying …they are criticising a project for the welfare of the poor and are actually ridiculing the poor.” Aftab had just started responding to the concerns but the opposition staged a walkout due to which the question on Metro project was once again deferred.

“Why are you running away from the assemblies? Are you still not sure of being in the government?” Chandio questioned while referring to the empty benches of ministers. Later on, Saleem Mandviwala pointed out that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, once again, did not attend the session. Finance minister never comes to answer questions related to his ministry, he added.

“Dar is heading 35 committees [according to my information], how can he come to this house,” Haji Ghulam Ali said, harking back to the old days when Dar used to sit on opposition benches and criticise the then finance minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2015.