NA moved to debate Pak foreign policy, Indo-US N-deal

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) wants to have a debate in the National Assembly on a nuclear deal between the United States and India and also Pakistan’s foreign policy.
In this regard, the PPP has submitted a motion under Rule 259 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Business National Assembly, 2007 to the National Assembly Secretariat to discuss the foreign policy of Pakistan especially with reference to recent unilateral nuclear deal between the United States and India.
The motion was submitted by PPP legislators Imran Leghari, Ayaz Soomro, Shazia Mari, Nafeesa Shah and Azra Fazal.The motion stated that the issue was of utmost importance as this unilateral nuclear agreement between these two countries may prove fatal for peace efforts in South Asia, particularly with respect to the ongoing war against terrorism in Pakistan.
The PPP legislators through their motion stated that Pakistan does not have a foreign minister at this stage and also the current government has so far failed to adopt a clear stance to preserve the national interest and security. ”This is an important matter and needs to be discussed on and needs to be discussed on the floor of the house,” the motion stated.
The Rule 259 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the Business of the National Assembly 2007 read as, “Rule 259: Motion that policy, situation, statement or any other matter be taken into consideration.- (1) Any Minister or member may give notice of a motion that any policy, situation, statement or any other matter may be taken into consideration.
(2) The Assembly shall proceed to discuss the motion after the mover has concluded his speech and no question shall be put at the conclusion of the debate unless any Minister or a member, with the consent of the Speaker, moves a substantive motion in appropriate terms in which case a question shall be put: Provided that substantive motion shall be moved immediately after the Speaker has put the original motion to the House.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the provisions of rules 158 to 169 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a motion for consideration moved under sub-rule (1), hereinafter in this rule referred to as the original motion, and to a substantive motion moved in substitution of the original motion hereinafter in this rule referred to as the substitute motion, as if such original motion were a resolution and the substitute motion were an amendment to the resolution. (4) If one or more substitute motions have been moved, the Speaker may, in his discretion, put them to the vote of the Assembly 92 so, however, that the motions expressing disapproval of the matter referred to in the original motion are voted upon before the motions expressing approval thereof. (5) When a substitute motion is carried, all such other motions not put to the Assembly shall lapse.”