Burqa-clad woman in National Assembly triggers security concerns

The presence of an 'alien' (burqa-clad woman) in the National Assembly on Wednesday triggered security concerns among members. The Speaker, Amir Hussain, ordered an inquiry as to how the woman managed to enter the House with the security personnel around. Members from both sides of the aisle made comments and aired proposals on how to prevent such incidents in future. Mehnaz Rafi broke the news. She asked the woman, was she an MMA lawmaker? In reply, she said that she was not, but wanted to hand over an application to a minister, seeking recovery of her spouse.
The PML MNA said initially, the alien entrant, introduced herself as niece of a member of the assembly, but declined to name her.
She said it was not a trivial matter that a woman walked into the House, without any security check.
The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmakers saw a conspiracy in the incident, alleging it was a premeditated move to force their lady MNAs to remove veil from their faces. All the MMA female members of the House attend the proceedings wearing burqa except Asia Nasir (a minority MNA), who wears a shawl instead of burqa.
The issue of displaying security cards with photo of every member of the House was raised last year after some members pointed out the possibility of any stranger walking in, wearing a burqa.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai had rejected viewpoint of an MMA male MNA that all women, who covered their faces, were baparda and those who did not were beparda. In this connection, he said that Islamic system was in vogue in Iran, but women there did not cover their faces; instead they wore a cloak to cover their body.
Some proposals floated to discourage such happenings in future included separating an entry/exit point for lady members with female security guards around. These also included that all the MNAs should provide their thumb impressions for security reasons. A member said that all the members should display security cards. Law Minister Wasi Zafar contended that the woman entered the House by mistake.
The chair ordered an inquiry and formed a House committee to furnish proposals for ensuring no alien steps in the assembly.
Later, Begum Ishrat Ashraf, on a point of order, objected to ignoring women on the boards of directors of State Bank of Pakistan. The SBP report was placed before the members. "On one hand, the government talks of doing this and that for women, while on the other, women have not been given representation in SBP board of directors," she argued.