ISLAMAMBAD - The national assembly on third day of its 6th session continued debate on drone attacks in North Waziristan wherein opposition parties urged PML-N government to order shooting down the US drones and define its progress on the efforts for peace dialogue with the Taliban.
The House, which suspending all other agenda items was reserved for debate over emerging situation in the aftermath of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s killing, also saw verbal brawl between treasury and opposition benches over laying ‘Pakistan Protection Ordinance’ under supplementary order of the Day. Faced with enormous pressure of the opposition, the government side retreated, expressing its intentions to present it on the next day.
The proceedings over drone strike and Nato supplies was also disrupted when Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah pointed out the separate Senate meeting of opposition parties (Near parking area of parliament), in protest against Interior Minister Ch Nisar’s conduct last week. Nisar said his conduct was according the norms of the parliament and he asked the opposition parties to form a committee of opposition members in the House to probe the issue.
“I have never uttered a single un-parliamentary word in the Senate proceeding and I am not making it matter of ego for me,” Nisar clarified, adding that he had asked chairman Senate to show recording of the proceeding to Senators to examine his attitude.
On it, opposition parties – MQM and PTI – put weight behind his argument saying that both the sides should resolve the matter and keep the Lower House functional. Leader of Opposition in NA Khursheed Shah, who took floor thrice on this matter, asked the minister not to make it a matter of ego. “We in our era had accepted many strict demands of the opposition. There should be flexibility in a politician and there will be no harm it if he (Nisar) would eat his words,” he added.
Earlier, Taking part in debate on drone strikes, PTI secretary information Shinreen Mazari said that Pakistan has ability to shot down drones so it should use its skills. “Government should inform about future strategy on ‘peace dialogue’,” she added. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker Sahibzada Tariq Ullah argued that when Pakistan has ability to shot down drone why it was not doing so.
JI leader said it was no sin to declare some person a ‘martyr’ who died in a drone strike. “Whosoever died in US attack, will be called a martyr,” he said, asking the government to take decisive action after Nov 20 against drone strike. He further said that prime minister should come and take House into confidence about future strategy on this important matter.
A treasury benches senior member from Pakhtun Khwa Mili Awami Party (PKMAP) Mehmood Achakzai on his turn, shared solution to the extremism and terrorism with the house. He was of the view that the matter could be resolved adopting three things including that Pakistan should give the international guarantee that Afghanistan is a sovereign state. “There is need to give Fata to its own people to govern and thirdly disarm the foreigners and expel them,” he said.
Achakzai further went to say that he could resolve the issue by March 23 with a group of only 15 people if his conditions were met. He was of the view that that if the foreigners are expelled from tribal areas the US would cease the drone strikes. He also said he didn’t favour a military operation in the tribal area.
He further told the house drone strikes did the less collateral damage what our own air strikes in the tribal areas. He further said that he was not consulted about the name next president and other matter by government. “I am not scarring you but I might accept for the slot of Speaker,” he added. On it, Speaker Iyaz Sadiq rushed to remark that he was ready to vacate seat for him.
Ghulam Muhammad Bilour from ANP, on his turn, said that government should continue its efforts for peace dialogue. “When his brother and other relatives were killed in attacks no body termed martyr to them,” he in an emotional tone said, adding that government should make all out efforts to resolve this matter.
Taking part in debate, PTI central leader Javed Hashmi said that it was the responsibility of the government to protect the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. “We are pro-Pakistan and will raise the voice at every level,” he added. About blasphemy law, Hashmi said that it should also be impose on witnesses. He said that media should have reported his previous statement carefully keeping all the aspects in mind.
A treasury benches member Qaisar Ahmad Shaikh was of the view that the dialogue is the only way forward to deal with this issue. “Every step should be taken keeping in mind all pros and cons,” he added. Other lawmakers from opposition parties remarked that the government should give an in-camera briefing to parliamentarians about the outcome of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with the US leadership.
Earlier, the House over the government wish over laying ‘Pakistan Protection Ordinance’ under supplementary order of the Day, saw tough resistance of the opposition parties. PM Nawaz Sharif had wrote a letter to all parties justifying its significance and stressing the need for the legislation. The federal government, as part of its anti-terror measures, drafted the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) 2013 that declares “peace-disrupting” elements as “enemies of the state”, which President Mamnoon Hussain approved on October 19.
Enclosing a copy of the PPO with the letter, he said it is being promulgated with a view to give a strong message to organised crime and anti-state elements regarding “the will and determination of the state.” The law is in full consonance with the country’s constitution and the current volatile security situation and the potential unfolding events in post-2014 Afghanistan warranted such a law, he explained.
Online adds: Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan has said that his conduct in the House has been according to the norms of the Parliament and he has never used any un-parliamentary word or ridiculed anybody in the Upper House.
He said he is fully accountable and answerable to the elected House.
Responding to a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition about the boycott of proceedings of Senate by the Opposition‚ Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a few days back the Opposition members in the Senate raised objections to the answer relating to the number of casualties occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to acts of terrorism.
The figures I had presented before the Senate pertaining to casualties from terrorist activities - that led to a war of words - were provided by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and were correct, he said.
Nisar said a committee with members from the Opposition benches should be formed to investigate if he refused to review the figures or misbehaved. “I’m not afraid of being held accountable,” he said.
“As soon as Opposition members refused to accept the figures, I told them I will ask the KP government to recheck them; it is on record,” Nisar said, adding, that the provincial government was requested to check again. He said the KP government stands by the previous figures.
He said a committee of the Opposition should be constituted to check the conduct of the Opposition members on that particular day.
He said that his conduct in the House has been according to the norms of the Parliament and he has never used any un-parliamentary word or ridiculed anybody in the Upper House. He said he is fully accountable and answerable to the elected House.
Responding to the point of order of MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar‚ he said that the govt is closely watching and monitoring the ongoing targeted action in Karachi.
He said that the recent incidents ahead of Muharramul Haram were a conspiracy but we are determined to control the situation. We are fully aware of those behind these incidents which are not related to Shia-Sunni differences, he added
He said that the Karachi action is continuing successfully with the cooperation of all the political parties including MQM.
He said that the Federal government is extending all possible support to the provincial government for maintenance of law and order in the provincial capital.
He said he will meet with the delegation of MQM on Saturday to address their concerns.
The House, which suspending all other agenda items was reserved for debate over emerging situation in the aftermath of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud’s killing, also saw verbal brawl between treasury and opposition benches over laying ‘Pakistan Protection Ordinance’ under supplementary order of the Day. Faced with enormous pressure of the opposition, the government side retreated, expressing its intentions to present it on the next day.
The proceedings over drone strike and Nato supplies was also disrupted when Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah pointed out the separate Senate meeting of opposition parties (Near parking area of parliament), in protest against Interior Minister Ch Nisar’s conduct last week. Nisar said his conduct was according the norms of the parliament and he asked the opposition parties to form a committee of opposition members in the House to probe the issue.
“I have never uttered a single un-parliamentary word in the Senate proceeding and I am not making it matter of ego for me,” Nisar clarified, adding that he had asked chairman Senate to show recording of the proceeding to Senators to examine his attitude.
On it, opposition parties – MQM and PTI – put weight behind his argument saying that both the sides should resolve the matter and keep the Lower House functional. Leader of Opposition in NA Khursheed Shah, who took floor thrice on this matter, asked the minister not to make it a matter of ego. “We in our era had accepted many strict demands of the opposition. There should be flexibility in a politician and there will be no harm it if he (Nisar) would eat his words,” he added.
Earlier, Taking part in debate on drone strikes, PTI secretary information Shinreen Mazari said that Pakistan has ability to shot down drones so it should use its skills. “Government should inform about future strategy on ‘peace dialogue’,” she added. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker Sahibzada Tariq Ullah argued that when Pakistan has ability to shot down drone why it was not doing so.
JI leader said it was no sin to declare some person a ‘martyr’ who died in a drone strike. “Whosoever died in US attack, will be called a martyr,” he said, asking the government to take decisive action after Nov 20 against drone strike. He further said that prime minister should come and take House into confidence about future strategy on this important matter.
A treasury benches senior member from Pakhtun Khwa Mili Awami Party (PKMAP) Mehmood Achakzai on his turn, shared solution to the extremism and terrorism with the house. He was of the view that the matter could be resolved adopting three things including that Pakistan should give the international guarantee that Afghanistan is a sovereign state. “There is need to give Fata to its own people to govern and thirdly disarm the foreigners and expel them,” he said.
Achakzai further went to say that he could resolve the issue by March 23 with a group of only 15 people if his conditions were met. He was of the view that that if the foreigners are expelled from tribal areas the US would cease the drone strikes. He also said he didn’t favour a military operation in the tribal area.
He further told the house drone strikes did the less collateral damage what our own air strikes in the tribal areas. He further said that he was not consulted about the name next president and other matter by government. “I am not scarring you but I might accept for the slot of Speaker,” he added. On it, Speaker Iyaz Sadiq rushed to remark that he was ready to vacate seat for him.
Ghulam Muhammad Bilour from ANP, on his turn, said that government should continue its efforts for peace dialogue. “When his brother and other relatives were killed in attacks no body termed martyr to them,” he in an emotional tone said, adding that government should make all out efforts to resolve this matter.
Taking part in debate, PTI central leader Javed Hashmi said that it was the responsibility of the government to protect the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. “We are pro-Pakistan and will raise the voice at every level,” he added. About blasphemy law, Hashmi said that it should also be impose on witnesses. He said that media should have reported his previous statement carefully keeping all the aspects in mind.
A treasury benches member Qaisar Ahmad Shaikh was of the view that the dialogue is the only way forward to deal with this issue. “Every step should be taken keeping in mind all pros and cons,” he added. Other lawmakers from opposition parties remarked that the government should give an in-camera briefing to parliamentarians about the outcome of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with the US leadership.
Earlier, the House over the government wish over laying ‘Pakistan Protection Ordinance’ under supplementary order of the Day, saw tough resistance of the opposition parties. PM Nawaz Sharif had wrote a letter to all parties justifying its significance and stressing the need for the legislation. The federal government, as part of its anti-terror measures, drafted the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) 2013 that declares “peace-disrupting” elements as “enemies of the state”, which President Mamnoon Hussain approved on October 19.
Enclosing a copy of the PPO with the letter, he said it is being promulgated with a view to give a strong message to organised crime and anti-state elements regarding “the will and determination of the state.” The law is in full consonance with the country’s constitution and the current volatile security situation and the potential unfolding events in post-2014 Afghanistan warranted such a law, he explained.
Online adds: Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan has said that his conduct in the House has been according to the norms of the Parliament and he has never used any un-parliamentary word or ridiculed anybody in the Upper House.
He said he is fully accountable and answerable to the elected House.
Responding to a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition about the boycott of proceedings of Senate by the Opposition‚ Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a few days back the Opposition members in the Senate raised objections to the answer relating to the number of casualties occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to acts of terrorism.
The figures I had presented before the Senate pertaining to casualties from terrorist activities - that led to a war of words - were provided by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and were correct, he said.
Nisar said a committee with members from the Opposition benches should be formed to investigate if he refused to review the figures or misbehaved. “I’m not afraid of being held accountable,” he said.
“As soon as Opposition members refused to accept the figures, I told them I will ask the KP government to recheck them; it is on record,” Nisar said, adding, that the provincial government was requested to check again. He said the KP government stands by the previous figures.
He said a committee of the Opposition should be constituted to check the conduct of the Opposition members on that particular day.
He said that his conduct in the House has been according to the norms of the Parliament and he has never used any un-parliamentary word or ridiculed anybody in the Upper House. He said he is fully accountable and answerable to the elected House.
Responding to the point of order of MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar‚ he said that the govt is closely watching and monitoring the ongoing targeted action in Karachi.
He said that the recent incidents ahead of Muharramul Haram were a conspiracy but we are determined to control the situation. We are fully aware of those behind these incidents which are not related to Shia-Sunni differences, he added
He said that the Karachi action is continuing successfully with the cooperation of all the political parties including MQM.
He said that the Federal government is extending all possible support to the provincial government for maintenance of law and order in the provincial capital.
He said he will meet with the delegation of MQM on Saturday to address their concerns.
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