ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar on the floor of the National Assembly on Monday came harsh on the opposition members for their “support to Khwarij and ignoring 80,000 sacrifices rendered during war on terror”.
“You should take notice of this drama of opposition members. We are silently watching them sitting with Khwarij and speaking in their support”, Tarar said. The PPP parliamentarian Syed Rafiullah, while regretting protest of the opposition members, said their government resettled terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after bringing them from Afghanistan.
He maintained the PTI-supported government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was also funding Khwarij. “They are also feeling the pain of security forces operation against Khwarij and that is why they are staging protest”, he said. The National Assembly on Monday witnessed strong protest from the PTI-supported parliamentarians against the alleged killing of children and women in Tirah Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The protesting members during the question hour were also carrying placards with images of children which they said were killed in Tirah Valley. Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq maintained that he would not allow any member to speak in support of Khwarij.
Syed Rafiullah also demanded of the Speaker to give a ruling against the opposition members. “They are also finding reasons for another May 9 like violence”, he said adding the opposition members are humiliating Shuhada and their families.
The National Assembly on Monday passed the Asaan Karobar Bill, 2025 which seeks to reform the regulatory framework governing business, trade, and investment by removing cumbersome procedures and complex requirements.
The legislation also provides for the establishment of the Pakistan Regulatory Registry and the Pakistan Business Portal to facilitate ease of doing business. The Pakistan Business Portal will be a one window for identification and issuance of all government registration, issuance of licences, certification and other permits.
Meanwhile, parliamentary reporters staged a walkout from the National Assembly’s press gallery against the harassment of senior journalist Ijaz Ahmad by the PTI founder. Responding to the media’s walkout, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar said decency and tolerance are the hallmarks of politics.
He said it is unfortunate that indecent language was used by the former prime minister against senior journalist Ijaz Ahmad.
He added that the senior journalist was performing his professional duties to cover the court’s proceedings being held at the Adiala Jail in a case pertaining to the PTI founder. He said it is unfortunate that trolling of the journalist has been unleashed on social media.
The minister emphasised that politicians need to face criticism and respond in a dignified manner. Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the PTI leadership had a great respect for media saying that he himself apologised to mediamen.
He was of the view that he was not aware of contents of conversation between party’s founder and journalists. He demanded that resolution in this regard should not be moved in the House. On that the Speaker said the resolution would be taken up in the House. “You were raising slogans in support of Khwarij when some members went to meet mediamen in the press lobby”, the Speaker while addressing Barrister Gohar said.
The National Assembly also passed a resolution condemning use of indecent and improper language with senior journalist in Adiala Jail. The resolution observed that former prime minister Imran Khan Niazi not only used indecent language but later planned campaign on social media was launched against the journalist in which he was also hurled life threats.
The House through the resolution which was opposed by the opposition members directed the government to take immediate action on the issue and take preventive measures against such smear campaign.
The House also condemned the murder of journalist Imtiaz Mir in Karachi and called for the immediate arrest of his killers. It stressed the need to curb online hate campaigns against journalists and ensure their protection.