Parliament will have to plead such cases for next 70 years: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Information Maryam Aurangzeb while maintaining that the government respects the courts as guardian of Constitution on Tuesday said that all institutions should remain within their constitutional limits.

Speaking in the National Assembly she, however, said that sending an elected prime minister packing calling him as ‘godfather’ and ‘Sicilian Mafia’ was insult of opinion and their mandate given to him. “Not only the elected prime minister but the elected government was dubbed as Sicilian Mafia.”

She said that 17 prime ministers were sent home without completing their tenures. She said that everybody knew the path that the country had traversed during the last 70 years and it was the right moment to ponder whether the next 70 years were also to be spent mourning over the past mistakes and throwing the Constitution into the waste paper basket? She observed that there was an imperative need to use their collective wisdom to set a right direction for the country.

Marriyum Aurangzeb during her speech came harsh on those cursing the Parliament. “The sanctity of the Parliament cannot be restored unless the person cursing the supreme institution and attacking it is out of it,” she said.

She agreed with the opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah’s remarks when he on floor of the House on Monday observed that mistakes were committed by the politicians. Listing those ‘mistakes’, Marriyum said mistake was committed when politicians were booked on charges of theft of cattle, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s hanging was celebrated and oaths were taken under military dictators. “Should we not learn from these mistakes and move on,” she asked. She added that criticising the judgment was her right, saying that now the voice could not be suppressed.

Speaking on a point of order, the PTI parliamentarian Dr Shireen questioned as to why the defence minister was not telling the House about details of sending Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia.

Recalling that the Parliament had opposed sending Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia, Dr Mazari feared that the troops would fight in Yemen. “The House should also be apprised as to where the Pakistan troops will be located,” she said.

The Speaker said he would write a letter to the defence minister asking him to brief the House at the next session.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the House that the report regarding allegations leveled by an anchorperson of a private news channel Dr Shahid Masood would be presented in the Supreme Court within 30 days.

He said a JIT consisting three members had been made by the SC to investigate the allegations leveled by Dr Shahid Masood in a television programme and directed to present the report within 30 days. He said the investigations were still underway and it was not suitable to share information of the JIT prior its completion.

He said the Federal Investigation Agency was also further investigating the matter urging media to follow the code of ethics which were made by itself.

Minister for Privatisation Daniyal Aziz informed the National Assembly that the government is bound to complete the privatisation process of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) till April 15 as per the PIAC Conversion Act 2016 which was adopted by the Parliament unanimously. Replying to a calling attention notice moved by Syed Naveed Qamar and others, the minister clarified that the government will retain 51 percent shares of PIA while the management control will also remain with the government.

The minister said the process will not affect the employees of the organisation adding that a full government owned company is also being established under which all the fixed assets of PIA would be managed. He said that the share of PIA would be sold after due process.

He said that it was a premature calling attentions notice as the prime minister is yet to approve the privatisation of the PIA, adding that committee of the Parliament approved its privatisation.

The National Assembly passed two bills including ‘The Health Services Academy (Restructuring) Bill, 2017’ and the ‘Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Bill, 2017’ moved by Saira Afzal Tarar, presented by the Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

The Prevention of Drugs in Educational Institutions Bill, 2018 presented by the MNA Shahida Rehmani and The Compulsory Drug Test of Students Bill, 2018 regarding the students of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) both were clubbed and deferred for further deliberation. The Minorities Access to Higher Education Bill, 2018 presented by the MNA Asiya Nasir was referred to the standing committee for further consultation on the request of the minister for education.

The National Assembly also adopted the six motions in the house presented by the different members of National Assembly. The motions regarding the Federal Witness Protection Bill, 2015 and the Religious Scholars, Ulema and Pesh Imams (Prayer Leaders) Welfare Bill 2017 both moved by the Chairman Standing Committee on Interior, Rana Shamim Ahmad Khan were adopted. The motion regarding the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2017 moved by the Rana Shamim was also adopted. The motion regarding the Protection of Journalists Bill, 2014 moved by the MNA Pir Muhammad Aslam Bodla was adopted.