NA takes up Kasur incident today

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) will have extensive discussion about the reprehensible incident of kidnapping and killing of seven-year old girl Zainab in Kasur in its important session commencing here today (Friday).

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has allowed calling attention notice for taking up in the day’s proceedings and it will be discussed by the House. It is likely Federal Interior Minister Professor Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry will give statement about the heinous act and the floor will be opened for discussion. State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry will conclude the debate on the subject.

The calling attention notice has been submitted by four members of the House belonging to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) namely Ms. Zaib Jaffar, Ms. Shakila Luqman, Ms. Asia Naz Tanoli and Ms. Khalida Mansoor. Notice says that the members to invite attention of the minister for interior to take matter of urgent public importance regarding rape of a seven year old girl and brutal murder in Kasur, causing grave concern amongst the public.

The parliamentary sources told The News that the Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah will first speak on the notice on behalf of the opposition. Although the opposition has decided to boycott the proceedings of the National Assembly as long the legislation isn’t brought in the House regarding merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) in the KP province. The severity of the issue has compelled the opposition to take part in the process of discussion by departing from its previous decision. The sources said that final decision would be taken regarding the mode of proceedings in the House Business Committee meeting that will take place before the start of the session under Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in his chamber.

It will be 51st session of the National Assembly and 80th day of the current year’s proceedings. The National Assembly will have to hold its sittings for 50 more days till May 31st to complete mandated days of proceedings prescribed in the Constitution.

The sources pointed out that the National Assembly has placed on the agenda discussion on motion of thanks for President Mamnoon Hussain for expressing deep gratitude to him for his address to the both Houses assembled together on 1st June last year. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad will move it. It is understood that the opposition may boycott the discussion.

Yet another calling attention proposed by seven members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to invite attention of the minister for energy to a matter of urgent public importance regarding recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, causing grave concern amongst the public. The parliamentary group leader of the PPP Syed Naveed Qamar, Ms. Shazia Marri, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Dr. Nafisa Shah and Mir Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani have sponsored the calling attention notice. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who failed in turning up in last two sessions of the National Assembly is expected to show up in the sitting and he will take part in discussion today, the sources hinted.