Fazl questions eligibility of PTI MNAs in Kashmir committee

ISLAMABAD: Parliament’s Kashmir Committee Chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while speaking on floor of the National Assembly (NA), questioned eligibility of MNAs of Pakistani Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) as members of the committee.
“I am not calling meeting of Parliament Kashmir committee as PTI people whom I do not consider as MNAs are also its members and their fate is yet to be decided,” the JUI-F chief said while speaking on a point of personal explanation in response to a point of order raised by Dr Shireen Mazari.
The PTI parliamentarians had raised question over performance of Kashmir committee and expenses being incurred on it. Rehman said he had asked the Prime Minister to decide Terms of References (ToRs) of the committee in order to highlight Kashmir policy in an effective way.
He said he wanted that the Parliament should devise Kashmir policy and hold debate on this vital matter. He pointed that the Kashmir committee was incomplete without members of the Senate. “It comprises members of the National Assembly while the Senate is yet to forward names of its members,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan told the National Assembly that Pakistan wants the resolution of the Kashmir issue according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris in line with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Dr Shireen Mazari and others, the Minister said that Kashmir issue should be resolved through free and impartial plebiscite honouring the demands of the Kashmiris.
He said the government has raised the Kashmir issue on international fora a number of times and will continue its moral, diplomatic and political support to the Kashmiris for their just right to self-determination.
Khurram Dastgir said Pakistan has concerns over the human rights violations by India in the occupied Kashmir. He said the international human rights organizations have also expressed concerns and highlighted Indian brutalities on international for a saying that India should respect human rights and stop brutalities in occupied Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly was informed that 687 references were filed in the Accountability courts by National Accountability Bureau during the last five years and out of these 309 accused were convicted.
Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Pervaiz Rashid informed the House during question hour that 2,295 inquiries and 801 investigations were held during 2010 to 2015 by NAB. He said that 681 persons were placed on Exit Control List while red-notices against 23 persons were issued during the period. To a question, the Minister said that Rs293 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights during the current fiscal year and out of these Rs114 million has been allocated for the welfare of the women and children. He said during last fiscal year, Rs314 million was allocated to the Ministry and out of this Rs200 million was utilised.