ISLAMABAD – PML-N on Thursday staged a walk-out from the National Assembly session over gas outages, increase in petroleum prices and absence of the Ministers in the House, warning of harsh action if the government did not set it house in order and issues being faced by the public are not redressed.
The House also witnessed farewell speech of former PML-N senior member Makhdoom Javed Hashmi from the present Assembly, who alongwith his daughter, Maimoona Hashmi tendered resignation from their respective seats of the Parliament. Speaking on point of order, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that Parliamentarians should respect the Parliamentary norms in the House.
Raising objection on the alleged sarcastic voices from Treasury Benches when Javed Hashmi was delivering farewell speech in the House, Nisar said: ‘if they are saying that enough time should be provided than Shah Mehmood Qureshi should also be given time to deliver speech’, he said, adding, that Shah Mehmood Qureshi was not given time to deliver speech in the House.
‘Masses are facing hardships in present circumstances. If the Petroleum Minister cannot deliver then he should be sent home’, he added.
Expressing concern over the absence of Foreign Minister, he said ‘we have forgotten her face due to her long absence’.
Raising serious concern over Minister for Petroleum statement for closing down CNG stations, Nisar said that why the Minister could not understand the future situation.
‘We are staging silent walk-out today but this protest would increase manifold if the problems of masses are not redressed’, he added. On it, Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi clarified that Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s resignation has still not been accepted as he has full right to deliver speech. ‘Shah Mehmood Qureshi can deliver speech no matter how much time he wants’, he added.
Chief whip of PPP, Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah said that there should be uniform stance of Opposition members as PML-N member had given proposal in favour of closing down the CNG stations in the Standing Committee meeting.
‘Leader of the Opposition spoke entirely opposite what his party member suggested in the Standing Committee’, he said ,adding, ‘it doesn’t suit Leader of the Opposition to say that they will interrupt the Assembly proceedings’.
He said that population of the country has increased manifold and dictators in their era did not pay attention to gas shortage issue.
‘We want gas supply in every nook and corner of the country and in this regard 3,700 kilometer gas lines are being laid down’, he added.
Supporting the concerns raised by Leader of Opposition on the non-presence of Ministers in the House, he said that all the members should respect the House. He said that present Assemblies has passed 86 bills in four years.
Earlier, Senior parliamentarian Makhdoom Javed Hashmi who recently joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), prior to resigning from the National Assembly, had taken an overview of the challenges faced by the political leadership and widening gap between the people and the politicians.
Hashmi and his daughter, Maimoona Hashmi tendered resignation from their respective membership of the Parliament.
He suggested to the Prime Minister not to insist on completing his government’s tenure and rather hold snap polls.
Javed Hashmi said that masses of the country were losing confidence in the Parliament ,which was becoming powerless day by day.
He said that political leadership should better save the country now.
‘We faced torture in jails and I was arrested on the orders of the dictator. If the Parliament would keep ignoring the people it would become so weak. If aspirations of people are not adhered to, the anti-State forces may succeed’, he maintained.
During his farewell speech from incumbent Assembly, PTI member Javed Hashmi told about hardships he had confronted during the era of PPP founding Chairman.
He suffered torture in Shahi Qila and Mianwali Jail but he remained firm in his stance, he said.
He said he had confronted Zia-ul-Haq in mid-80s and dared to call him a stranger when he came to address the joint sitting of the Parliament.
‘I have also rejected offer for being Speaker of National Assembly. I was also tortured in prison under the dictatorship of former President Pervez Musharraf but remained firm on my stance’, he added.
Talking about his previous party PML-N, he said he was not made member of any committee during the past four years.
‘I thought I was wasting my energies sitting in the Parliament.I wanted to work for people. So I decided to joint Imran Khan’s party’, he added.
Hashmi further said that he had been ignored by his party leadership despite his sacrifices.
He said that Zahid Hamid had been given a ticket in 2008 elections despite the fact that Zahid Hamid had attacked his daughter in the National Assembly.
‘A former PML-Q Minister had attacked my daughter when I was imprisoned and Hanif Abbasi had rescued my daughter, but I did not raise the issue and followed the party discipline’, he added.
On it, PML-N legislator, Hanif Abbasi that he had saved Maimoona Hashmi who was attacked by PML-Q MNA Tariq Javed and not by Zahid Hamid.
Hashmi asked him not to distort facts as he had photographs of Hamid attacking his daughter.
He further said that he had decided to ignore the act by Zahid Hamid.
Speaking on a point of order, PML-N MNA Zahid Hamid said that he never thought about doing such act.
‘She (Maimoona) is like my daughter. I was shocked to listen to it. I respect Makhdoom Javed Hashmi but this allegation is shocking’, he added.
Adding his share, Akhunzada Chattan, an MNA from the Bajaur Tribal region said that he has respect for Makhdoom Javed Hashmi but he should not term the Assemblies as rubber stamp.
Hashmi was not made Leader of Opposition and Chairman PAC so he spoke in such a manner, he added.
Earlier, Suraiya Jatoi, a PPP nominated candidate took oath as Member of the National Assembly.
She became the member of the House against a seat reserved for women.
This seat had fallen vacant after resignation by former MNA, Sherry Rehman who was appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to US.
Monitoring Desk adds: MQM submitted a resolution in the National Assembly for the formation of Hazara and Seraiki provinces. The MQM said in the resolution that Abbottabad, Kohistan, Haripur, Battagram, Mansehra and Torghar should be formed as a Hazara province while there should be a referendum in South Punjab to determine whether the people want one or two provinces.