Khursheed takes exception to applause over arrest of Zainab’s killer

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, while terming applause and clapping on the occasion of announcement of arrest of Zainab’s killer as shameful, demanded Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to apologise to the nation for hurting the feelings of 200 million people of the country.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly during the Question-hour on Wednesday, Khursheed Shah also asked the House to pass a resolution to condemn the act of Shahbaz Sharif and appreciate the officials for nabbing the culprits who previously had killed over half-a-dozen minor girls in Kasur after subjecting them to sexual abuse. “The House, which uses to pass other resolutions on many other issues, should also pass this resolution,” he said.

The opposition leader said crimes happen all over the world but it never happens that anybody claps for nabbing culprits involved in molestation of children. “Shame on you. You clap to celebrate the arrest of the culprit who is involved in such a heinous crime,” Khursheed Shah said, adding that everybody’s head bowed with regret who saw that scene of clapping.

Khursheed Shah pointed out that in the Punjab only, a total of 1,297 incidents of year 2016, but nobody was arrested. He said over 50 incidents occurred in Lahore, but the result was nil. He said the highest number of the crimes happened in Lodhran, but no criminal was arrested.

The opposition leader maintained that he was not indulging in any blame game rather he was raising an issue of human rights. “It is more regrettable act when this act of clapping is done by a person who is holding the most important slot in the province,” he said.

Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, who was chairing the proceedings, directed the Ministry of Human Rights to submit a report of incidents of child abuse as mentioned by the opposition leader in his speech.

Earlier, one of the PTI parliamentarians pointed out lack of quorum during speech of the opposition leader. However, on counting, the House was found in order. The opposition leader observed that the PTI members used to complain that they are not given the opportunity to speak on floor of the House. “Every member has the right to express his views here. You have no right to deny this opportunity to them,” Khursheed Shah said.

The PTI parliamentarians again attempted to get the floor but they were denied the same during the question hour. “It is right of the opposition leader to speak whenever he wants,” the deputy speaker said.

Meanwhile, Khursheed Shah said cursing the Parliament tantamount to sending curse on 200 million people of Pakistan. “The Parliament cannot be held responsible for the failure of the government as if anyone fails to deliver then the people elect others for the Parliament,” he said while talking to media persons after the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee at the Parliament House.

The opposition leader said the Parliament is an institution where people learn a lot “I have learnt patience and tolerance in the politics through the Parliament,” he said. He said the major mistake of the present government and successive governments was that they did not telecast the live coverage of the Parliament. He said if live coverage of the Parliament was telecast then the people would themselves realise that what the Parliament was doing for the people.

Khursheed Shah said it was the Parliament that forced a dictator to run away, made the country an atomic power, gave the country missile technology, brought back 90,000 prisoners to the country, ensured the rights of the people, gave them voice besides many more achievements. The opposition leader challenged all those who cursed the Parliament for open debate.

The opposition leader termed the submission of the PTI resignations to Imran Khan as a political drama, as the PTI provincial assembly will never resign. “Those leaders who are announcing their resignations should resign if they had taken this decision on the call of their conscience," he said. The opposition leader said that for some people the Parliament is good for getting power but they send curse when they did not get power.

To another question, he said efforts were being made to arrest suspended SSP Malir Rao Anwar in the murder case of Naqeeb Mehsud.