PTI, PPP MNAs trade charges in NA

ISLAMABAD: The parliamentarians from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) traded barbs in the National Assembly after former Speaker Asad Qaisar termed the whole process of passage of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution immoral, unethical and illegal.

Asad Qaisar also warned the government that the PTI would fully resist the proposed 27th amendment if attempts were made to get it passed by the Parliament.“We will hold protest demonstrations across the country and bring people to the streets against planned 27th amendment to the Constitution which will also be an immoral act,” he said while speaking on the floor of the National Assembly.

He said that the PTI MNAs, particularly those belonging to the Punjab province, bravely faced all unethical tactics and rejected all the offers to support the amendment.He said that that businesses of PTI MNAs were shut while their houses were demolished. “Whether this is democracy, or amendments are passed in this way,” he questioned.

He regretted role of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in passage of the amendment saying that he feels sorry for a democratic party like the PPP which became part of his illegal and immoral activity.

Asad Qaisar said that the prime minister was not speaking the truth, or he was unaware of facts when he said those opposition members who supported the government were independent members.

“In both cases, Shehbaz Sharif is not eligible for the slot which he is holding,” he added.The PTI leader said that he wanted to ask the prime minister whether he purchased loyalties of opposition members in support of the constitutional amendment. “We feel ashamed while saying that there is democracy in the country and we are parliamentarians,” he said.

He further said that a province was deprived of participation during the process of passage of the constitutional amendment, adding that that there was no representation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Senate.

He pointed out that the National Assembly was also incomplete as the PTI was yet to be given its reserved seats. He also questioned according to which law, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House was sealed saying that the federal government invaded territorial limits of a province.

He said that PTI leaders and workers were deprived of their basic right of holding protests across the country, adding that he would draw attention of human rights organisations to such violation of rights.

PPP parliamentarian Abdul Qadar Patel, in response, said that the PTI government was imposed on the country in 2018 through RTS system and their government played havoc with the country in the next nearly four years.

He said that the PTI leaders had no courage to face the truth and they always distort facts. “Neither they have the ability to run the government nor they allow others remain in power,” he said.

Patel said that the PTI leadership wanted Maulana Fazlur Rehman not to support the constitutional amendment which was meant for supremacy of the Parliament.The PPP MNA further reminded Asad Qaisar that sister of Asif Ali Zarari was also arrested a night before Eid during the PTI regime while other party’s female leaders were also tortured.

He further recalled that as to how loyalties of 15 senators were purchased during the PTI regime when Yousaf Raza Gilani was defeated in election for the Senate chairman post. “If they acted on voice of their conscience then why it is not the case now when five MNAs voted in support of the government,” he said.

He claimed that not five but 50 parliamentarians of the PTI were ready to vote in favour the constitutional amendment.He also reminded the former NA Speaker that 52 bills were passed in a matter of few minutes when he was occupying the chair.

PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat pointed out lack of quorum in the National Assembly during speech of Patel but the House was found in order.Veteran politician Syed Khursheed Shah said that the PPP as a democratic party believed in smooth transfer of power which was done by it.He also mentioned that for the first time in country’s history, a prime minister was sent home through a constitutional process of no-confidence motion.