ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Wednesday rushed through passing the bill for establishment of the National Institute of Oceanography to carry out research in mineral, oil, gas and fisheries and protection and conservation of marine environment.
The 29-clause National Institute Oceanography Bill 2005 was adopted with majority vote, dropping amendments by PPPP’s Syed Zafar Ali Shah to clauses 4, 7 and 19, as he had walked out of the house along with his party colleagues.
MMA legislator Dr. Farid Piracha said that the government was forming institutions after institutions that was putting extra financial burden on the national kitty.
However, Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor said it is not a new institution; it was already working and was being given status through the act of parliament in the light of the Supreme Court’s decision.
Earlier, the PPPP staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings of the day over what its legislators termed the failure of the government in registering an FIR in a case of firing on their colleague Dr. Azra Fazal. Before walking out of the house, Aitzaz Ahsan said the Kotri DPO insisted for not nominating provincial minister of Sindh Altaf Unar in the FIR. “It is a discrimination against the PPPP lawmakers who have an equal right to justice,” he said.
PPPP’s Raja Pervez Ashraf said two applications, one from the sessions judge and other from Dr. Azra Fazal herself, have been sent to the police, but they were not registering the FIR.
Meanwhile, the house started debate on law and order situation in the country, especially with reference to the recent incidents of suicide attack. However, the thin presence of legislators on both the sides of the house remained throughout the debate. Around 18 members were present in the house when the presiding chairperson Bushra Rehman, adjourned the session till today (Thursday).
PPPP’s legislators did not take part in the debate while their colleagues in the ARD were present.
The opposition blamed the government policies for increase in suicide attacks, saying that these incidents were on the rise due to the pro-west policies of the government. The treasury benches accused the religious extremists for deteriorating law and order situation in the country.
Taking part in the debate, Khawaja Saad Rafique of the PML-N was of the view the law and order situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the army is being targeted.
“The government is not serious in holding debate on law and order as its ministers are not present in the house,” he said.
He said tribesmen would backlash if their children were killed. “The North Waziristan peace deal has not met success, but the government initiated war in Balochistan and subjected Nawab Akbar Bugti to target killing,” he said.
Khawaja Saad Rafique said people are not even safe in Punjab and a provincial minister was killed. The ‘enlightened moderation’ has ruined the country, and it is now heading towards anarchy.
