Government drops 'controversial' resolution

The government on Friday dropped a 'controversial' resolution meant to condemn the opposition's attitude in prevailing judicial crisis, after scathing criticism from opposition benches who wanted to give it a matching response. While the opposition kept on pressing the government to take up what it said 'first of this kind' resolution, the government withdrew the resolution from order of the day.
The resolution was moved by Law Minister Wasi Zafar some two-day back to condemn opposition parties' for politicising the judicial crisis. But, so far the government has shown no signs of readiness to take up the resolution that would provide at least 22 opposition members, who had opposed the resolution, to unleash biting criticism on President's move to file reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The government's retreat on the resolution has further fuelled the speculations that Law Minister Wasi Zafar had moved the resolution without the consent of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and PML leadership.
Protesting against the government's refusal for not allowing the opposition members to speak on the issue, PPP Secretary Information Sherry Rehman announced to withdraw her current month's salary, saying she does not deserve to draw salary when she is unable to express her constituents' concerns in the Parliament.
International Commission of Justice, Sherry said, has also expressed grave concerns over the unprecedented situation and deepening judicial crisis in Pakistan.
However, she said, the government was not willing to allow a threadbare debate on the judicial crisis and it has been running away from its own resolution for the last two days.
Endorsing her remarks PPP-P Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf said they were prepared to respond anti-opposition resolution. He said that the government was taking u-turn on its resolution and requested Speaker Amir Hussain to fix a day for the debate on judicial crisis. His party colleague Qamar Zaman Qaira expressed the same sentiments said that the opposition has been demanding debate on government's resolution. "The whole opposition has opposed the resolution. Mr Speaker you had given a ruling that it would be discussed on Thursday but it is yet not on the order of the day," he protested.
He pressed the Speaker for holding another sitting in the evening to discuss the judicial crisis but Speaker Amir Hussain remained unmoved. "We invite the government to hold a debate on prevailing judicial crisis in the house. I request you Mr Speaker to please tell us when the issue will be debated?" he questioned.
On the other hand, Law Minister Wasi Zafar said Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was not removed rather a reference had only been moved against him. Though, he did not announce whether the government was ready to take up the resolution, Wasi said the opposition was politicising the judicial issue merely to gain political mileage and dividing judiciary.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi had stated on Thursday that the resolution has become property of the house and government cannot withdrawn it unilaterally. However, the government has not announced any timeframe when the resolution would be taken up. Earlier, Minister for Food and Agriculture Sikandar Hayat Bosan told National Assembly that the government would ensure that growers get Rs 425 minimum wheat support price.
Responding to a calling attention notice regarding procurement of wheat for Passco through middlemen during the current harvesting season, Bosan said the government was making its best to end the role of middlemen. He said the government would also consider exporting surplus wheat.