PPP, PML-N trade jabs in NA over sit-in
07 February, 2013
ISLAMABAD: The PML-N and PPP legislators on Wednesday exchanged harsh words in the Upper House of parliament when PPP's Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah termed the PML-N led sit-in a flop, prompting a response from PML-N's Senator Mushahidullah Khan, who said most jialay had run away when Benzair Bhutto was assassinated. Speaking on a point of order, Dhamrah told the senators that the PML-N had failed to carry on its sit-in due to rain, while Tahirul Qadri's sit-in was successful, as he stuck to his demands despite harsh weather. He noted that there were no hurdles in the PML-N-led 13-party sit-in, but it was not held due to rain. The people expected that the 13-party sit-in will make the Election Commission of Pakistan more strong, but they even failed to brave the rain. In response, Mushahidullah Khan said the sit-in was arranged to show solidarity with the people of Karachi, who had expressed some reservations over the ECP's voter verification process there. The PML-N did not give any call for sit-in otherwise millions of people would have arrived in Islamabad, he claimed. He said that when the PML-N started a long march for the restoration of judiciary, the matter was resolved even before the march's arrival at its destination. He told the House that the PPP is completing its tenure due to cooperation of the PML-N. Mushahidullah Khan also informed the House that after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, prominent PPP leaders had fled the scene and it was Nawaz Shairf who went there. He remarked that the PPP has finally accepted that Tahirul Qadri was invited by the party for a sit-it in Islamabad. After finishing his speech the PML-N senator walked out from the Senate. However, the PML-N statements infuriated the ruling PPP senators, and the party's chief whip, Islamuddin Sheikh, asked the Senate deputy chairman to expunge some of his words about Benazir Bhutto. But Saber Baloch (who chaired the proceedings) told him that the PML-N senator did not make any objectionable remarks about the late Benazir. Another PPP Senator, Kazim Khan, told the PML-N senators that they should thank the PPP, "who give them a chance to carry on politics in the country". PPP's Senator Sardar Ali Khan said PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had made great contribution in making Pakistan stronger, and Benazir Bhutto made hectic efforts to restore democracy in the country. However, he said it was regrettable that the assassination of Benazir was discussed in an "impolite manner" and vowed that the names of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto will be remembered as long as Pakistan remained intact. Senate deputy chairman was of the view that Benazir was undisputed leader of the country. Earlier, the JUI-F and BNP-A walked out against the imposition of governor's rule in Balochistan. Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, on a point of order, said that the law and order situation of other provinces was also not good but their governments were still in office, while only Balochistan was targeted. The JUI-F senator claimed that the governor's rule was imposed to delay the upcoming general elections or again nominate some selected people. BNP-A's Senator Kalsoom Parveen also walked out of the Hosue against governor's rule in Balochistan. End.
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