Combined opposition in the National Assembly on Wednesday expressed concern over Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan's health, demanding lifting of all restrictions on him. The government assured the House, which resumed business with 40 minutes delay that the father of the country's nuclear programme was being treated by a team of doctors and flayed the opposition for trying to draw political mileage out of it.
It was significant to note that the Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, who usually does not allow points of order during the question hour, showed magnanimity and permitted a volley of them mostly by the opposition members.
Sahibzada Fazal Karim of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) even alleged that Dr Qadeer was being given slow poison. He questioned PML President Shujaat Hussain and Information and Broadcasting Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani calling Dr Khan a 'national hero'."They are calling national hero a person who is under the government custody. Under which law, a hero is treated like this.
His friends, well-wishers and parliamentarians are being denied an audience with him," he contended. This is absolutely wrong. Neither we nor the opposition could even think of poisoning the national hero, Minister for Kashmir Affairs Tahir Iqbal said, rejecting the allegations.
The opposition lawmakers also again called upon the Speaker to issue production order for jailed Pakistan Muslim League leader Javed Hashmi, enabling to him cast his vote when the no-trust motion is taken up for voting.
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain told the House that Dr Khan looked active and had a frank chat with him and Muhammad Ali Durrani, when they met him here on Wednesday. The PML chief maintained that the government was providing proper medical treatment to Dr Qadeer.
PML (N) MNA Tehmina Daultana was the first to raise the issue of Dr Qadeer's health and requested the Chair to produce Hashmi to participate in balloting in no-trust motion. "Sir, Javed Hashmi, who is acting president of PML and parliamentary leader of ARD in National Assembly is keen to cast his vote when the voting is held," she said and requested to take personal interest in his case.
She believed that Dr Qadeer should be shifted to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital for proper treatment, saying it was shameful that the national hero is being treated like this.
MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed rose to ask if PML president and a minister could see Dr Qadeer, why not he, being his close friend, adding for the last one year, he was being denied even telephonic contact with the nuclear scientist.
Qazi Hussain revealed that he was told by an army officer to contact a major general, as only he could allow him to see Dr Qadeer, when he visited his residence on Tuesday to inquire about his health.
The MMA leader wanted the government to clear its position on the matter, as the nuclear scientist was being kept in an environment worst than a jail, where no one could meet him.
However, no one from the treasury benches responded to his query, as if no one listened.
"In order to do away with his mental stress, there is a need to lift all curbs on him," Qazi added.
ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim urged the Speaker to issue Hashmi's production order, but made no mention of Dr Qadeer in his brief point of order.
PPPP Secretary General Pervaiz Ashraf rose to demand of the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to step down, setting a good precedent after the Supreme Court judgement in Pakistan Steel Mills sell-off case, adding or at least Owais Leghari, who was minister for privatisation at the time of privatisation of PSM, should quit.
"We will do accordingly, if Benazir Bhutto had also stepped down after the apex court judgement in corruption cases," reacted the ruling PML MNA Farooq Amjad Mir. Law Minister Wasi Zafar pointed out that there was no hint of corruption in the entire PSM sell-off judgement, therefore, the opposition should stop giving it a political colour.
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