Joint opposition on Saturday filed an adjournment motion with the Senate, seeking discussion on Prime Minister's statement that Pakistan would provide centrifuges to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. The opposition contended in the motion that Premier Shaukat Aziz had taken a U-turn on his earlier statement that Pakistan would not give parts of centrifuges to any country or body. Joint opposition expressed concern over the change in the government's policy on the matter and said that these parts would be tested to see whether or not Iran had used the same technology in its alleged secret nuclear programme.
News reports quoted Premier Aziz as saying in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday that Islamabad would send centrifuge parts to the UN International Atomic Energy Agency to help determine whether Iran had been secretly developing nuclear weapons. He said while talking to a group of newsmen that Pakistan would be sending centrifuge parts under certain conditions.
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS: The other motion was about a United Nations body's concern over reports of increase in extra-judicial killings across Pakistan.
The opposition Senators sounded grave concern over the state of affairs and demanded suspension of routine business in the House to discuss the matter.
MPs' MONITORING: The third motion sought a debate on Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui's revelation during his news conference early this week that three officers of the special branch were given instructions to monitor activities of the members of the Parliament, the Sindh Assembly and the provincial ministers.
The opposition pointed out in the motion that even the home minister did not know that his movements were being monitored.
The motion contended that it was a very serious matter that the movements of the elected representatives were being watched and that the centre and the provincial government had no knowledge about that.
Under the rules, the chairman or the presiding officer is bound to fix a minimum two-hour debate on any issue brought under the adjournment motion, suspending the business as per the agenda.
Those who signed the motions were from all the opposition parties, except the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal. The Senators are Opposition Leader Mian Raza Rabbani, M. Ishaq Dar, Asfandyar Wali, Sanaullah Baloch, Amanullah Kunrani, Raza M. Raza, Aslam Buledi, Saadia Abbasi and Safdar Abbasi.
The government is expected to summon the Senate during the second or third week of May.
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