Senate echoes with voices against ethnic killings, military operation

ISLAMABAD Government on Monday faced utter embarrassment, as its coalition partner JUI-F boycotted the Senate proceedings and pointed out quorum for the second consecutive day. Soon after the start of the session, JUI-F Senator Khan Muhammad Sherani, on a point of order, protested against the arrest of over 300 party activists in Malakand operation. He said military operation was counter productive and demanded provision of lists of people killed and arrested during these operations. He alleged that secret agencies forced police to release the criminals apprehended red-handed in bomb blasts and target killings. He also regretted that the FC removed one barrier from a place in Balochistan but at the same time, it installed another five in other place. Khan Muhammad Sherani further said that JUI-F would not attend proceedings of the House until the Government talked to them comprehensively on those issues. Later, his party walked out of the Senate. However, after a few minutes, JUI-F Senator Dr Ismail Buledi came in and pointed out the quorum, due to which the Acting Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Jamali had to adjourn the House for half an hour, as the quorum was not complete by then. Meanwhile, the Upper House unanimously passed the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2010, which was presented by Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar. Later, Senators Raza Rabbani, Wasim Sajjad, Prof Khurshid, Haji Adeel and Shahid Bugti, who were earlier attending the Constitutional Reforms Committee meeting at the time of the passage of the Bill, strongly protested against bypassing them in legislation and staged walk out. Senators Raza Rabbani and Wasim Sajjad alleged that the bill was drafted outside the country under foreign dictates. Wasim Sajjad tore down the copy of the Bill. He also demanded that Chairman Senate should affix a note with the copy of the Bill that the House requested him to send back the Bill, which he (Chairman Senate) accepted. On a point of order, Senator Gulshan Saeed regretted that no Baloch Senator ever walked out over the issue of target killing of Punjabi and Urdu-speaking settlers in Balochistan. She also staged walk out over the killing of Prof Fazal Bari in Quetta. Senator Zahid Khan alleged that Pukhtoons were discriminated and tortured in Punjab. Senator Ilyas Bilour said that no one was ever killed in NWFP on ethnic basis. Senator Mushahidullah paid tributes to the role played by Wali Khan in protecting Punjabis in the NWFP after the incident of brutal killing of NAP leaders in Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Senator Hafiz Rasheed demanded provincial status for FATA and representation in Constitutional Reforms Committee (CRC). In response to certain point of orders, Minister for Local Government Abdul Razzaq Tahim said that Financial Advisor to the Ministry of Finance was not issuing additional funds to MNAs and Senators despite announcement of the Prime Minister. Interior Minister Rehman Malik reiterated that India was involved in the unrest in Balochistan province. He said BLA was a hired terrorist organisation. Malik also said that he had sought reports of killing of Prof Fazal Bari and the news item published regarding discrimination of Pukhtoons in Punjab province. He said he was ready for in camera briefing of the House on Balochistan situation. Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf rejected the news item wherein Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan was quoted as saying that Iran was ready to provide cheap electricity to Pakistan but Pakistan was not interested. The Minister said that Iran provided 39 MW for Gwadar at 5.9 cent per kilowatt under an agreement that expired in 2009. Now Iran demands 11.5 cent for one kilowatt electricity, he said. He also asserted that the rental power was the only short-term solution to the power crisis in the country.