ANP, JUI-F paralyse Senate proceedings

ISLAMABAD Severe cracks appeared in the ruling coalition on Friday, as ANP and JUI-F Senators paralysed the Upper House by continuously pointing out quorum and boycotting the proceedings of the House, which moved Chairman Senate to abruptly adjourn the session till Monday. Taking a bitter start, Senator Zahid Khan of ANP severely criticised the Government over absence of ministers in the House at the very inception of the session. Later, the party boycotted the House on the issue of tabling of the anti-money laundering bill. The proceedings continued smoothly till JUI-F Parliamentary Leader Senator Gul Naseeb Khan lambasted the Government for not taking coalition partners into confidence on various issues. He alleged that a consensus resolution being moved by JUI-F members of Balochistan Assembly on provincial autonomy was dropped from the order of the Assembly on intervention of Prime Minister Gilani, against which the party staged walkout. Senator Gul Naseeb also said that 300 workers of JUI-F had been missing since the Malakand operation but the Prime Minister was not giving time to listen to their grievances. As no one went out to convince ANP and JUI-F to call off their protest, Senator Zahid Khan came in the House and pointed out the quorum. The bells were rung for five minutes, as the quorum was not complete by then. After a few minutes of resumption of the proceedings, JUI-F Senator Dr Ismail Buledi pointed out the quorum but by that time the counting found that the quorum was complete. After another few minutes, Zahid Khan came in again and once again pointed out the quorum. As he tried to rush out while the Chairman Senate was calling him to be present during the counting, MQM Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi criticised Zahid Khans behaviour. Khan turned to MQM Senators and both the Senators exchanged the bitterest words ever heard between two coalition partners since the inception of the coalition government, which made Chairman Senate to abruptly adjourn the House for Monday. The day was very tough for the Government, as PPP Senator Safdar Abbassi and MQM Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi blasted the Government for power outages in the country, especially in Karachi. Senator Safdar Abbassi said that Government could give no specific power policy during its two years in office. He said the situation was moving towards a complete state of anarchy and chaos. Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that KESC had no furnace oil to run the 600 megawatts Port Qasim power generation facility. He said the situation worsened in the last two years. Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi pointed out to a news item wherein Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan was quoted as saying that Pakistan was showing no interest in Irans offer of provision of 2200 megawatts electricity at cheaper rates. He said Government should avail the offer instead of going for controversial rental power. Senators Haji Adeel, Prof Khurshid and Abdur Raheem Mandokhel lamented over Punjab Police attitude with Pakhtun residents of the province. They alleged that the Lahore Police arrested and tortured Pakhtuns and released only when they assured of leaving the city. PPP Senator Saleh Baloch criticised Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharifs statement regarding Taliban, saying PML-N was supporting the Taliban. Hina Rabbani Khar moved the anti-money laundering bill, stating that the bill aimed at combating financing of terrorism. Discussion over the bill was deferred till Monday.