PPP ties support for legislation to Maryam’s apology

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro on Tuesday linked his party’s support for legislation to an apology from Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz over her remarks he said were tantamount to harming the federation.

He raised the matter after the question hour in the Senate, and then PPP legislators walked out of the House in protest. He asserted, “We will not vote for any legislation till an apology is tendered by the Punjab chief minister and government of Punjab”. Terming some of her statements divisive, he contended that the chief minister’s remarks that ‘my water, my wish’ were just against Sindh or PPP and an attack on the federation of Pakistan. He added that what if someone tomorrow says that ‘our sea our wish’, ‘our petrol our wish’ and ‘our electricity our wish’. He also talked about the controversial canals issue and said their party had submitted objections in accordance with the relevant law, rules and the Constitution.

The PPP lawmaker argued that all political parties are ‘registered’ with the Election Commission of Pakistan and hence they can work across the country, none can confine them to any one province. Then the party legislators exited from the House after he made it clear that they would not support the government for legislation, if the provincial government and the chief minister do not apologise, as they had previously ignored so many things.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman, who was presiding over the session asked the law minister to address the concerns of allies. However, PMLN leader Rana Sanaullah defended Maryam Nawaz’s remarks, citing the national water accord and said the water among provinces was distributed under a formula. He clarified that the Punjab CM was talking about her right to the share of the province and that the same principle applies to all other provinces. He claimed that Punjab has always acted like an elder brother and rendered sacrifices but has been blamed and abused in return. He wondered that who else will respond, if Punjab is criticised without any reason, if not the Punjab chief minister. He emphasiaed that every province has a right to use its share of water as it likes.

To this, Sherry Rehman said she cannot argue from the chair as she is sitting on right now and said the issue will come up for discussion on Friday on an adjournment motion signed by PPP lawmakers including herself.

Awami National Party Chief Aimal Wali Khan, in his hard-hitting speech, sought details of the agreement signed with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s endorsement of a 20-point solution to Palestine issue and questioned the role of SIFC. Referring to Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visits abroad, he charged that “there was no democracy but dictatorship in the country”. He claimed that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had been made to enter into an agreement. About Punjab, he charged that had Punjab played the role of elder brother, there would have been no complaints from the younger brothers. The ANP lawmaker referred to the 20 points which Pakistan is said to have agreed and sought a briefing to the joint sitting of parliament either by the army chief or the prime minister. He maintained that the SIFC was an “unconstitutional body”. Aimal protested when he was not allowed to speak on the Tirah incident.

Responding to him, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the agreement with Saudi Arabia had added to Pakistan’s respect and the entire 240 million were profoundly happy over this honour of safeguarding the Harmain Sharifain. On the issue of Palestine, he said the state of Palestine had officially welcomed the arrangement and now this matter was heading towards settlement and establishment of peace was being foreseen. He said the history would also remember how the prime minister and other Islamic countries slammed Netanyahu at the UNGA. He assured the ANP senator that it would be conveyed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, when he is back that he may take the nation into confidence on the recent crucial developments.

He said a joint sitting of the parliament would be convened soon. The PMLN was standing by 18th Amendment and during its tenures tried to implement it as much it can. He also defended the role of the federation with regard to the Reko Diq. He said the state was the interface and its role was confined to commerce, trade and investment while Balochistan had the major share in these resources. Nominations from the provinces in relation to the new NFC Award had been finalized and everything would be thrashed out with consensus very soon.

At the very outset after the oath-taking of Rana Sanaullah as senator, PTI members wanted to speak and their parliamentary leader Barrister Syed Ali Zafar was on his feet to insist that the entire proceedings should be dedicated to discuss what is going on in Kashmir.

However, Sherry promised to give them time after the question hour. But after the question hour was over, she allowed laying of reports of the standing committees. But PTI legislators were adamant on discussing the Kashmir situation. They kept on agitating and some of them gathered in front of the chair’s dais and later walked out of the House.