PTI setting shameful traditions: Asif

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif once again came harsh on the leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying that traditions being set by the PTI were shameful.

Responding to a point of order of the PTI member Shafqat Mehmood in the National Assembly, the minister said there were many precedents in the political history but none of the party members returning to the assembly once they resigned as parliamentarians. “They tendered resignations and then they returned to the House while crawling,” he said.

He pointed out that the speaker also protected the PTI members and did not accept their resignations. “The PTI MNAs also drew their salaries and allowances of standing committees meetings during that period,” he said.

Khawaja Asif said those abusing the House from container should not expect a dignified response from the other side.Without naming Imran Khan, the minister said he continued calling parliamentarians dacoits and thieves from the container and also called the National Assembly as a rigged assembly.

Asif said that one who enters into equity must have a clean record, adding that the PTI chief was involved in transferring and investing Zakat money to the tune of 7.5 million dollars in foreign firms. He said the PTI leaders were involved in attack on parliament during their sit-ins. He said they are accountable for their doings and accordingly the people of the country will do their accountability in the next general elections.

Meanwhile, the House passed the National Command Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill, 2016.The National Command Authority NCA (Amendment) Bill, 2016 provides with more clearly that the federal government shall ensure provision of funds and to further reiterate the original intent of the NCA Ordinance and NCA Act 2010 that employees in service of the NCA are not civil servants. The Plant Breeders’ Rights Bill, 2016 provides for the development of breeding of new plant varieties and protection of the rights of breeders of such varieties. The bill was moved by Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan.