ISLAMABAD: The ruling coalition in the Senate on Thursday again called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf “not to cede its space” in the political dispensation and urged it to rejoin the parliamentary panels by ending its boycott. However, the opposition party said only their party founder could reverse the boycott policy.
The government also came under fire in the House for rising inflation and “unprecedented” increases in rates of petroleum products at a time when these had come down.
On the direction of PTI founder chairman Imran Khan, the party MNAs and senators had resigned from all the parliamentary standing committees last year to protest the disqualification of large number of party members and leaders following their conviction in the May 9 incidents.
The same strategy was also adopted by the party lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly.
The request for rejoining the committees came from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after the PTI legislators criticised the role of parliament and underscored the need for ensuring governance and democracy in the country.
Meanwhile, taking the floor, PTI Senator Aon Abbas Buppi expressed his regret that lawmakers were doing nothing except receiving salaries and enjoying foreign visits. “We have disappointed our voters; it looks that the entire House has becomes a facilitator”.
Speaking on the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, he alleged that the House was ready to facilitate if “a judge has to be transferred, or an amendment is required to be introduced”. He expressed grave concern on this trend. He wondered as to why there was an all-time high increase in petrol prices in Pakistan while India and other countries had not increased the prices of petroleum products.
Senator Faisal Javed of PTI was also alarmed by rising inflation and said the response of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government was unsatisfactory over the issue.
He emphasised, “It is not significant that we become satisfied but the satisfaction of the public is of high importance, as petrol prices had decreased in the international market a day earlier, but its impact was not visible locally. On the other side, the government instantly increases prices of petrol when its rates surge in the international market.”
Senator Javed urged the government to end the ongoing alleged inhumane treatment being meted out to their party, as this was the only way to move forward.
In response, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar maintained that this was neither the first instance of political leadership languishing in jail nor was it the first time that there was a ban on their meetings. He pointed out that the matters are before the courts and the executive has no authority to give relief to anyone directly. He appealed to the PTI to become a part of the process and rejoin the parliamentary standing committees.
Tarar contended that the habit of merely delivering speeches could not resolve the problems. He noted that Adviser to the PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah had already expressed the government’s willingness to hold a dialogue with the opposition, saying, “We are ready to talk on the instructions of prime minister.”
In reaction to his statement, Senator Javed asked the government to arrange their meeting with their jailed leader Imran Khan to take a final decision on rejoining the committees.
Responding to him, PMLN Senator Nasir Butt said it was the court that had to direct the jail authorities to allow Imran Khan to meet with the party leadership, accusing PTI of being a facilitator of terrorists by relocating them in settled areas.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary also made a request to the opposition party to rejoin the committees. PPP’s Vice-President Senator Sherry Rehman, who was presiding over the sitting, also advised the opposition party to rejoin the committees. Addressing the opposition senators, she remarked, “Why do you cede your space”. Leader of the Opposition in the House Allama Raja Nasir Abbas claimed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had recently deported around 2,000 Pakistani workers, many of them belonging to Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and south Punjab. He insisted, “This is a serious matter and the government should hold talks with the UAE in this context”.
Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary rose to clarify that there were reports that around 3,494 workers had been deported from the UAE, out of which some were involved in crimes and others lost their jobs due to financial crunch because of the US-Iran war. “The matter is being raised on social media out of proportion, whereas Pakistan enjoys good relations with the Emirates,” he stressed and assured the House that detailed figures would be presented after collecting it from the Foreign Office.
Meanwhile, the House unanimously passed a resolution that warmly welcomed the visit of Prince Rahim Aga Khan V along with his delegation to Pakistan. Moved by PPP Senator Salim Mandviwalla, the resolution paid rich tribute to the “remarkable” services rendered by Prince Aga Khan family towards the “progress, welfare, education, health, culture and uplift of humanity in Pakistan and across the world”. It was noted that their contribution towards interfaith harmony, peace, tolerance, rural development, education and preservation of human dignity shall always remain deeply respected and appreciated by the people of Pakistan.
The resolution acknowledged with appreciation the “extraordinary humanitarian role played by the Aga Khan Development Network in serving humanity without discrimination of race, religion, nationality or social status.”
It reads, “This House further recognises the Ismaili community living in Pakistan and abroad, including in the State of Texas, as peaceful, law-abiding, honest, hardworking and highly respected people who have continuously contributed towards economic growth, philanthropy, education and humanitarian causes throughout the world.”
Later, the House was prorogued sine die on the conclusion of business.
