ISLAMABAD - The Jamaat-e-Islami staged walkout in Thursday’s National Assembly session over baton charge by Punjab Police against blind persons in Lahore, saying that two percent job quota for persons with disabilities should be properly implemented.
The third major opposition party (MQM) also verbally supported JI lawmakers in support of blind persons who were raising voice for their right when police manhandled them. The government side attempted to play down the incident but admitted that the blind persons were pushed to make way.
The religio-political opposition party JI’s parliamentary leader Sahibzada Tariq Ullah, on point of order, strongly criticised Punjab police for beating up the blind protesters. “People in other countries have much respect for the blind but here they are facing such kind of situation,” he said, adding that it was not enough to suspend some police officials. “The disabled were only demanding implementation of quota,” he said.
MQM lawmaker Asif Hasnain also jumped into the fray commenting, “There is need to ascertain the real cause behind this sad incident... It seems police is not under control of government,” he added. He also raised voice for alleged discrimination in Sind quota.
PML-Z chief Aijazul Haq said there should be proper implementation of two percent quota of blind persons. “Attack on blind persons is sorrowful and it should not be repeated,” he added. Another lawmaker Niqhat Shakeel said that even two percent quota for the blind should be introduced in the parliament. “A bill was moved in the assembly for giving two percent representation to blind persons in parliament,” she said.
Defending the back-to-back attacks from opposition parties, Rajjab Ali Baloch from treasury benches denied baton charge on blind persons. “Concerned police officials have been suspended... I have not witnessed baton charge on blind persons in TV clips,” he said, admitting however that the blind were pushed away to clear the road.
MQM also raising the issue of Daish (ISIS) in Pakistan asked government to unveil facts behind it. “The government should inform about the presence of ISIS in Pakistan on the floor of the house,” he said while quoting Altaf Hussain who had claimed the existence of Daish in the country.
Quoting a fresh incident, he said, a suspect was arrest with literature of Daish. “Will you take action when they fully penetrate in the country like their penetration in Iraq and Syria,” he remarked while giving credit to MQM chief who he said had earlier informed about the presence of Taliban in Pakistan which was proved after two years. He said that government and interior ministry should inform the nation timely so that people could deliberate over this matter.
Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal, responding to call-attention notice about non-decrease of prices of items of daily use despite reduction in the rates of petrol and diesel, said that significant difference would be seen in the prices in coming days. He hoped that other province would also implement it.
A report of standing committee regarding support price of wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane was presented by MNA Shakir Bashir Awan. It recommended that GST levied on agriculture machinery, fertilizers, pesticides and other agriculture input items should be waived off in the best interest of farmers. A high level investigation should be carried through NAB/FIA to probe into the matter of import of sub-standard wheat from Ukraine, in spite of the fact that huge quantity of own wheat is available in the stock to meet the requirement. “Indian wheat may not be allowed to enter Pakistani territory for its export to Afghanistan through Afghan Transit trade,” it further recommended.