Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar on Tuesday informed the Senate that the dossier which India has given to Pakistan carries no actionable and concrete evidence to prove that Pakistan had extended any support to non-state actors for Pulwama attack.
He condemned reinforcement of forces in Indian-held Kashmir after February 22, saying no matter how many times India increases the number of its occupation forces in held Kashmir, it will not be able to suppress the voice of the Kashmiris for their right to self-determination.
The opposition lawmakers strongly objected to a statement by Pakistan Navy which said it warded off an Indian submarine as "it could have easily been engaged and destroyed had it not been Pakistan's policy to exercise restraint in the face of Indian aggression and to give peace a chance to prevail."
Speaking on a point of order, PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi plainly said that the submarine of the enemy country should have been bombed after it was detected and localised in Pakistan's maritime zone on March 4. "Why did you [Pakistan Navy] let it go and who ordered you not to bomb it down," he q1uestioned.
He said that the House should be informed as there are rumours that some superpower in connivance with Israel had made the planning to attack Pakistan. "If so, it's a very serious issue and the House be taken into confidence," he maintained.
Senator Sherry Rehman of PPP said that the way Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is threatening during his election rallies will not serve any purpose as peace is the only option to ensure lasting peace in the region.
She said that the way Indian submarine tried to enter Pakistani waters days after skirmishes between the militaries of the two countries is something quite dangerous and India must not resort to such adventurism.
Senator Rehman Malik said that the courtesies being extended by Pakistan in wake of attacks should stop. He said, "If we had shot down the submarine, we would have been in a better position."
Dr Shehzad Wasim of PTI said that Indian submarine did not enter into Pakistani territory as it was warded off by Pakistan Navy. Senator Mushtaq of JI lauded Pakistan Navy for warding off the submarine. About the Modi's statement, he said, "We need to remain vigilant to give a tit-for-tat response to the warmonger killer of Indian Muslims [Modi]."
Minister for Planning and Development Khusro Bakhtiar said that India did not succeed in violation of Pakistan's water space as they were detected. He said that ISPR and Foreign Office are finalising a statement which will be presented before the nation.
The opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in protest after the minister said that the Foreign Office and ISPR will issue a statement shortly, saying it is a sensitive issue and the government should take the House into confidence.
During the question hour, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood failed to satisfy the opposition members about the exorbitant fee in University of Peshawar. The opposition lawmakers said that fee in University of Peshawar is five times higher than other varsities.
The issue of Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sheikh Akhtar Hussain's fake death controversy echoed in the Senate. Senator Mushqat Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami questioned how the federal government handpicked Hussain as CEO DRAP, who had previously declared himself dead in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference filed against him.
Federal Minister for Health Aamer Kiyani defended the "controversial" DRAP CEO, saying he has been cleared of all the allegations including a fake PhD degree by the high court and Supreme Court.
To a question by Ayesha Farooq about shortage of drugs for leishmaniasis patients, the minister said that there is no shortage of the drug and they are available in the market.
Responding to a question by Muzaffar Hussain Shah about the next line of action after the UAE invited India as a guest of honour at OIC summit, the minister for planning and development said that the UAE said that the invitation had been extended before Pulwama attack, and withdrawing the invitation would have been against diplomatic norms.
To a question by Senator Atique Sheikh about Shifa International Hospital, one of the most expensive hospitals of the capital which is bound to give 50 percent free treatment since it is registered a charity hospital, the minister had no clue about functioning of the hospice.
This angered the senator who said that the minister has no idea how the private hospitals registered as charity hospitals are operating, which prompted the chairman to refer the issue to the concerned committee.
The minister also failed to answer questions about treatment to poor patients at Nuclear Medicine Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) Hospital, saying it does not fall under his ministry.
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