The outgoing Senators after completing their tenure, with all the perks and privileges on Thursday, termed the Upper House toothless, stressing that all the organs working under its jurisdiction are good for nothing, instead sheer wastage of time and precious national resources.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Allama Muhammad Abbas Komaili said that billions of rupees were being spent to run this house, but its directions were not given due respect by the government ministers, which clearly exhibits the power it commands.
One of the main reasons of the House ineffectiveness is that its elections were not held like national and provincial assemblies, he said, adding that direct public franchise will automatically enhance Senators stature, giving them ample power to hold federating units tight. "The house discussed plethora of issues like law and order situation, attack on the shrine of Rehman Baba but I want to ask the authorities concerned, is it not the duty of lawmakers to even consider what is happening in Dera Ismail Khan for the last two years", he lamented.
The state of affairs there has no match with such happenings the world over, he said, adding that everyday bomb blasts shake the city with several causalities, but nobody pays attention to it. If the government can impose governor rule in Punjab, why it is hesitant to impose it in NWFP? Does the situation in Punjab is worse than NWFP?
He alleged that a leader of a defunct terrorist outfit has been elected MPA and recruited his men in police. Those policemen are busy in looting people houses and carrying out suicide attacks even at funeral prayers, but the government is acting as a silent spectator in case of D I Khan, he lamented.
The life of people in D I Khan is miserable, they are helpless, and the government has failed to take an effective action to root out the network of terrorists as after committing crimes these terrorists take shelter in areas under the influence of bigwigs. The government knows that who the terrorists are, where they are hiding and who backs them, he alleged, saying that government is busy in a tug of war with PML-N to form government in Punjab, no rule of law exists in NWFP and Balochistan.
The government had claimed that terrorism would reach its logical conclusion when democracy would be restored, instead it has increased four times after the end of era of Musharraf. Taking part in the debate, Senator Mohammad Anwar Bhinder said that the house should not lose its credibility. It should stand for truth and make this house strong and exemplary. The Pakistans senate should be as strong as of the US Senate, he stressed.
We made new laws and it is the responsibility of the leader of the house to follow them. The session should start and end in time. He called upon all the political parties to sit together and resolve the problems confronted by the country through negotiations. Senator, Nisar A Memon, said that if corruption continued in grabbing Senate seats, it will be a disaster for the country.
"People become senator by giving bribe, using backdoor channels etc-it is very dangerous and destroying the roots of democracy", he added. Talking about the performance of the Senate he said that all the motions tabled in this house should be in national interest and the government should implement them immediately. He urged the politicians to avoid politics of confrontation and appealed them to show unity in their ranks.
Senator Enver Baig called for political stability in the country and said that judiciary is not above the parliamentarians elected through public vote. He regretted imposition of governor rule in Punjab, saying that after Sharif brothers disqualification, the government should have appointed new leader of the house in the province. He added that drone attacks inside Pakistani territory by US troops should be stopped else it would be counter-productive.
"I want to salute the armed forces of Pakistan the way they handled Swat situation", he added. He urged the Muslim ummah to resolve the issues faced by the Islamic countries in the best interest of the Muslims. Foreign powers have immense influence on our foreign policy for which we are unable to make independent moves. Senator Gulshan Saeed of PML-Q said that Nawaz Sharif should learn some lessons from past and avoid following politics of agitation.
He should avoid talking about civil disobedience, as it will harm the teething democracy. By agitation both Nawaz Sharif and Aitzaz are harming democracy, she maintained. Liaquat Bangulzai of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) said that in this country there are Muslims but no Islam, there is judiciary, but no justice, there are labours but no reward, there is hard work but no return, there are masses but nobody is there to improve their plight.
Senator Bangulzai, was also chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Information, said that information minister Sherry Rehman did not cooperate with the committee. Senator Syed Muhammad Hussain said, we came here with so much hope but leaving with great disappointment, adding that Senate committees are simply wastage of time and money as nobody is interested to resolve the issues of national concern to relieve the people.
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