Punjab Assembly declares Altaf traitor, slams attack on media

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously declared Muttehida Qaumi Movement Chief Altaf Hussein traitor as well as a national culprit besides demanding registration of a treason case against him for his unholy and provocative remarks against Pakistan.

Moreover, through another unanimous resolution, the PA also slammed Indian Prime Minister Narendera Modi for his statement concerning Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. It demanded federal government to take up this issue at international level and press India to avoid meddling into the internal affairs of Pakistan.

The PA session, which started with a delay of nearly one hour and 20 minutes with Speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal Khan in chair vehemently condemned vitriolic speech of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussein as well as attack on media houses by his party workers.

Members across the divide came hard on MQM Quaid and the PA echoed with the slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and ‘Modi ka jo yar hay Ghaddar hay, Ghaddar hay.’

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan, on behalf of the entire House, moved the resolution which stated, ‘The PA vehemently condemns the unholy and provocative speech of MQM head Altaf Hussein against Pakistan on August 22, 2016 and declares him national culprit and a traitor.’

‘Such remarks, which are against the sovereignty and will of the people of Pakistan tantamount to treason, the House demands federal government to try all persons involved in the crime under treason,’ said the resolution.

“This House also condemns attack on media houses in the name of protests and considers it an assault on freedom of press, expresses solidarity with media persons’ it said.

The resolution also paid rich tribute to the entire nation which exhibited remarkable unity on this occasion and warned all elements which want to destabilise Pakistan, create hurdles in the ways of its progress and prestige amongst global nations.

The entire House unanimously passed the resolution.Before the tabling of resolution, senior leaders from both sides of the House also indulged in traditional point scoring over the resolution against Altaf Hussein as Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, the Opposition leader protested after the chair had allowed Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan to move the resolution.

“It is our right to move it, we were the first to submit it and it is very unfair that we are not being allowed” said Opposition leader Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed while recording his protest.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on the occasion responded that the resolution of Opposition leader would be considered as a part of routine agenda as he didn’t move the  motion for the suspension of rules of procedures. However, both sides later agreed to move it jointly.

The resolution condemning Indian PM Narendera Modi’s statement regarding the province of Balochistan and federation units of Pakistan, including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan was also passed unanimously by the PA.

A PPP member on the occasion also demanded ending trade with India.Besides, during the question hour session which was related with Irrigation Department and Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries, Malik Arshad Advocate, a PML-N MPA from Sahiwal voiced serious concern over the complaints of water theft from canals.

He said ‘Baildars’ and any kind of force which was supposed to safeguard the canal water from being stolen seemed nowhere.Mohammad Ali Khokher, a PML-N legislator elected from Multan on the occasion also drew the attention of PA towards an ill-designed bridge in his district. He said the bridge was built with a purpose of minting money but its ill-designed construction caused severe loss to local people at the time of floods.

PA, which had a Private Members Day, also passed resolution demanding reversal of medicine prices for the treatment of diseases like cancer, hepatitis and others.Sheikh Alla-ud-Din, whose resolution regarding the formation of import policy of the country to protect it from facing losses was made pending.

The resolutions moved by Gulnaz Shahzadi demanding education department to bar private schools from forcing the parents to buy books, school uniforms from a specific shop and the one by Hina Pervaiz Butt to turn public places and offices a no smoking zone were made pending.