ISLAMABAD: In a rare move in the history of the Senate, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Friday submitted a privilege motion to the Senate Secretariat against Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his statement against the Senate chairman. The privilege motion dubbed the prime minister’s statement an attack on Parliament. “We the senators move that the privilege of this House has been breached by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister’s statement against the chairman of the Senate, Sadiq Sanjrani, was an attack on the Parliament of Pakistan that undermines the democratic foundations of the Senate of Pakistan.
It is a serious breach of the privilege of this House and an insult to the sanctity of chairman Senate’s office,” the motion reads. The motion is expected to be taken up during the first formal sitting of the Senate session, commencing from Monday.
It carries signatures of Leader of Opposition Senator Sherry Rehman, Anwar Lal Deen, Gianchand, Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, Imamuddin Shoqeen, Krishna and Farooq H Naek. Meanwhile, rejecting Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s statement against the Senate chairman, Leader of Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman Friday said the Senate chairman could summon premier, ministers and other high-ranking officials.
Talking to journalists here, she said the issue of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s statement would be raised forcefully in the upcoming Senate session. She said the opposition would grill the government over its policies.
About the fate of Fata, she maintained that resolution of issues, concerning the tribal region would be given due priority and consultations held with members of the Senate. Meanwhile, Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani Friday expressed hope that the House would unanimously adopt the Fata Reforms Bill, paving way for mainstreaming of the region.
Talking to two delegations here, he said the proposed legislation would help extend the Supreme Court and High Court jurisdiction to the region. Sanjrani said they were fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the tribal people and their mainstreaming was imperative for progress and prosperity.
“For this, there is a need for wide-ranging reforms,” he emphasised. The delegations were separately led by JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and senior journalist Salim Safi.
Meanwhile, Senate Sherry Rehman submitted a resolution to the Senate Secretariat on Friday. The resolution said: “This House soundly and unequivocally condemns the recent escalation of state-sponsored violence in Indian-occupied Kashmir, which has left scores of people killed and injured by Indian soldiers and police.
This House extends its deepest condolences to the families of the martyred persons and reiterates its undying solidarity with the people of Kashmir in their struggle for freedom and right to self-determination in the face of the most brutal state terrorism perpetrated by the Indian state. The resolution stated that for decades, the people of Kashmir had suffered violent repression at the hands of the Indian army that commits unconscionable brutalities with full impunity from the state where thousands of innocent people had been brutally martyred, millions orphaned, widowed and mentally disabled.
The Indian state’s deplorable actions range from shutting down schools, restricting movement of people, suspension of internet services to more heinous acts such as open firing and the use of tear gas and pellets to subjugate the people of Kashmir.
This House firmly believes that such indiscriminate use of force is a violation of the most fundamental human rights which will only fuel further discontent and deterioration in the stability of an already volatile region.
The danger of further escalation can only be thwarted if pressure is intensified to bring India to the negotiating table and find a peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict. ”This House assures the people of Kashmir its will to continue a robust campaign for Pakistan’s diplomatic, political and moral support for their plight. This House urges the international community, the United Nations, international human rights organizations and watchdogs to denounce the Indian state’s blatant violation of the UN Charter,” said the draft resolution.
