ISLAMABAD: Legislators belonging to both opposition and treasury Friday expressed dismay over absence of senators during voting on the delimitation bill, which was pending with the Senate.
They were unanimous in saying that Parliament may lose the historic opportunity of holding elections on time if this remained the attitude of lawmakers.
Senator Usman Khan Kakar of PKMAP, said Parliament was facing a threat from people, who never accepted this system and the Faizabad sit-in that entered 19th day was just a glimpse of those anti-democracy powers.
He said delay in passing the crucial constitutional amendment bill that will pave the way for timely election was also a reason to believe that the anti-democracy powers were bent upon delaying it.
Another PkMAP Senator Azam Musakhel said the bill was being willfully delayed on the dictation of anti-democracy powers.
He said the bill could not be passed for the third consecutive time and all the time members belonging to all parties, including the PML-N, remained mysteriously absent.
“It was my party, PKMAP, which has three senators; they remained present all the time, so I want to ask why these members remain absent despite knowing delaying the delimitation bill means delaying next elections,” he questioned.
Senator Farhatullah Babar endorsed the apprehension expressed by two PKMAP senators and said he was unable to identify the anti-democracy powers in the House but their presence was very much felt here. This prompted Rabbani to say that in Sufism, ‘seeing through the eyes of conscience is clearer than seeing something from the eyes’, adding this is how you take stock of the situation in your imagination, which is even clearer.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar urged Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan not to make any commitment on terms of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) without bringing it to
notice of the Senate.
Dastagir is to leave for Riyadh tomorrow (November 26) to attend the first meeting of IMCTC Ministers of Defense Council to formally launch the alliance and also outline the coalition’s strategy, governance, activities and future plans.
Speaking on a point of public importance in the House, Senator Babar reminded the government that the defence minister had assured the House that the terms of reference for participation in the alliance will be placed before the Senate before taking any decision.
He said the military commander of the coalition had also been quoted as saying that the coalition ‘encompasses four key areas of ideology, communications, counterterrorism financing and military to fight terrorism and to join other international security and peace keeping efforts’. Senator Babar pointed out that each of these areas, particularly the one relating to ideology, presents potential pitfalls and challenges with far-reaching consequences for Pakistan.
He demanded clarity on the issues involved and laying of facts before Parliament.
On his part, Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani also endorsed Senator Babar’s demand and said the then defence minister Khawaja Asif, who is now foreign minister, had also assured the House that the Senate will be taken onboard before any such venture with the Saudi-led military alliance.
Senator Najma Hameed of PML-N and Sheikh Ateeq of MQM-P sought intervention of chairman Senate for finding a solution to end Faizabad protest.