ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Shibli Faraz said in the Senate on Thursday that enemies of Pakistan were trying to sabotage the all important China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and accused Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) of serving the ‘designs of the enemy’ by trying to create instability and unrest in the country.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice regarding the lapse of China Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority Ordinance 2019, moved by Raza Rabbani from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the minister said that CPEC is not the project of any political party. “It is the project of the people of Pakistan and China. No conspiracy can derail the project.”
The minister strongly criticised the PPP senator for moving a Calling Attention Notice regarding CPEC. “There are many enemies of the CPEC project and we should not play in the hands of enemies. We need to be very cautious while raising questions about the projects that are regarded as lifeline for this country. When we raise questions about CPEC from the forum of the Parliament, our enemy finds a chance to unleash its heinous propaganda against this country, the CPEC and our brave armed forces,” he said.
The Senate session presided over by Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla saw exchange of heated arguments between the treasury and opposition benches immediately after the Question Hour was over and the information minister took the floor on the pretext of giving an important policy statement.
However, when he criticised the opposition, the chair intervened and asked the minister to deliver his speech only after the disposal of house business agenda. “Shibli sahib, I thought there is something important that you want to share that prompted you to take the floor in the middle of the session,” said the deputy chairman.
“What could be more important than this country? I want to say something that is related to the sovereignty of this country. What could be more important than that?” he asked.
Leader of the House in Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem intervened and requested the chair that Faraz be allowed to give a policy statement regarding arrest of Indian pilot on February 27, 2020, but the chair said he would be allowed after the disposal of house business. “I assure you the minister would be given ample time to speak after the disposal of house business,” the deputy chairman said.
Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raja Zafar-ul-Haq criticised the treasury benches for defying the instructions of the chair and insisting to take the floor before the disposal of the house business.
Later, the information minister was given the floor and he strongly took on the opposition and its Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). “Your brave Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jet on February 27, 2019. And by trying to undermine that historic achievement, you are serving the agenda of the enemy,” the minister said taking a jibe at the remarks of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq regarding the arrest of IAF pilot Abhinandan by Pakistan military last year.
“Our people and armed forces valiantly combated the war against terrorism. We need to promote unity amongst our ranks to defeat the conspiracies being hatched by our enemies.”
The entire country is grieved over the Peshawar seminary blast incident, he said.
Earlier, during Question Hour, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan said that Dr Afia Siddiqui has signed her clemency petition in the United States, which he said is a great achievement for federal government to convince her to sign the clemency petition. On September 24, 2020, the officials of Consulate General of Pakistan in Houston, US, met with Siddiqui in the prison and then met the US authorities following which she was allowed to contact her lawyer and family members through video link and her email address was not blocked, he said.
Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed informed the house that National Highway Authority (NHA’s) revenue has increased by Rs 50 billion under the tenure of the present government. He said there was no increase in toll tax at any of the 117 toll plazas under NHA control. The toll tax, he said is increased by 10 per cent each year at two motorways as a result of an agreement signed by the former PML-N government that allowed increasing the toll tax at those two motorways by 10 per cent annually for the next 20 years.
The agreement was signed in 2014, he said. The present government, he said has increased the NHA revenue by 103 per cent without making any increase in toll taxes, by taking a number of steps including stopping the ‘leakage’ of toll taxes, Saeed said. The groundbreaking of Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway will be performed next year, the minister said adding that the re-construction of Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway M-9 is being done as per international standards.
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the process to introduce a uniform syllabus in the country to remove the existing disparity in the education system has started.
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan informed the house that eradication of polio in Pakistan has been declared as a national public health emergency. He said the government has started different polio campaigns to eradicate the polio disease.
The house prayed for the martyrs of Peshawar seminary blast. The senators strongly condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of the terrorist activity. The house has now been prorogued.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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