Debate on the Yemen crisis continues: PTI urges NA Speaker to expunge 'un-parliamentary' words

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday urged National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to expunge 'un-parliamentary' words used by Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif against the party leadership.
Speaking on floor of the House, PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari asked the Speaker if the un-parliamentary words used by the Defence Minister would be expunged from the House proceedings.
"If there is any un-parliamentary word that would be expunged," the speaker assured Ms Mazari.
Talking about the Yemen crisis, she said that Pakistan should endeavour for peace and stability in the Middle East instead of becoming party to the civil war. "PTI's position on the issue is very clear that the Pakistan army should not be dispatched anywhere to fight wars of others," she said.
Pakistan should render moral and diplomatic support to Saudi Arabia rather jumping into the war itself, she advised, adding that Oman, a neighbour of Yemen, has refused Saudi Arabia its support to deal with the Houthi rebels.
She said that Pakistan should push for a peace-keeping mission in Yemen to settle the issue. "The crisis in Yemen should be settled through the platform of the UN Security Council and Pakistan should avoid from jumping into the proxy wars," she said.
Ms Mazari also raised questions about a statement of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the Parliament House that all facts about the Yemen crisis could not be revealed in the assembly. "Why there is so much secrecy about the government policy on Yemen. If the National Assembly is not informed, then how a right decision can be taken," she asked.
MQM Senator Tahir Mashhadi said the government should first deal with the terrorism and militancy at home as Taliban were wreaking havoc across the country. "Pakistan should not make any decision in a hurry on the Yemen crisis .... The government needs to look into different aspects of the issue before taking any final decision," he said.
PML-N Senator General (retired) Abdul Qayyum said that the whole Middle East had been in the crisis for the last so many years and the crisis in Yemen seemed to be a home-grown crisis.
"Saudi Arabia is a sacred place and if its territorial integrity is threatened by anyone, then Pakistan should respond to the threat immediately," he said.
Earlier, Pakistan Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid tried to speak on the Yemen crisis in the House but the Speaker didn't allow him. "I called your name before but you weren't present. I'll give you time tomorrow in the morning," the Speaker responded to Rashid's request.
Speaking to media persons outside the Parliament House, Rashid accused the Speaker of denying him time intentionally. "The remote control speaker denied me the time and it's inappropriate," he said.
During the joint session of parliament, attendance remained thin and majority of the members present in the House also remained busy in chit chat with each other. The members, both from the National Assembly and the Senate, also seemed to be least interested in the ongoing debate.