Taliban talks, tussle between media and state institutions: government under fire in Senate for not taking Parliament into confidence

The government came under fire in Senate on Wednesday for keeping the Parliament at bay over the ongoing tussles between media and state institutions, talks with the Taliban and the continuous absence of the Prime Minister from both the houses of the Parliament.
Speaking on a motion on the current political situation in the country, moved Raza Rabbani of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Senator Afrasiab Khattak of Awami National Party (ANP) said that the government ministers did not even bother to turn up in standing committee's meetings.
He continued that the government carried out air strike against militants in FATA but the Parliament was not taken into confidence, which is totally against the democratic norms. He said that 2008 general elections were the just beginning of democracy after nine years' long dictatorial rule of General Musharraf.
"The transition period still continues and this is the reason some people are fearful a third force may again derail the teething democracy....people made fun of the previous assembly in the name of fake degrees while they've declared the incumbent Parliament came into existence with a fake mandate," he added. Khattak said that the rhetoric of fake mandate is being harped by none other than Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Dr Tahirul Qadri, whose political parties were supported by the terrorists in the last years' general elections.
"Both Imran and Qadri have subverted the consensus built on the war against terrorism [and] in these circumstances the parliament must give a clear message that it stands by those who support democracy, as the country could not afford any further dictatorship," he maintained. About media infighting, the ANP leader said that some media houses had assumed the role of 'Porus's elephant' which will ultimately backfire hence depriving them of the freedom of speech which was gained after long struggle. He advised professional journalists not to become a tool at the hands of their media magnets.
He also proposed a joint-sitting of the Parliament with a sarcastic smile towards the leader of the house in Senate Raja Zafarul Haq for his inability to convince the prime minister to turn up in Senate. Kamil Ali Agha, a senator of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), was of the view that if a code of conduct for media could have been put in place, the prevalent situation could have been easily averted.
"The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting was already working on the issue for the last eight months but it could not materialise due to removal of Pemra chairman...still it is never too late and things could be controlled if the government acts sensibly," he remarked. He said that the job of the government should be to boost the moral of the armed forces instead of siding with a TV channel, as it is the army which guarantees the security of the motherland.
PML-N Senator Professor Sajid Mir said that accusing armed forces for attack on Hamid Mir was not new, as it also happened in the past. The thing which was new is the street protest by those political parties which come into power with the support of establishment or the leaders of the banned outfits, he added.
CALLING ATTENTION NOTICE The House also took up a calling attention notice, moved by Senator Sughra Imam of PPP, regarding disbursement of only 57.4 percent funds allocated for PSDP till May 16, 2014, as mentioned on the official website, whereas 85 percent should have been disbursed according to financial disbursement schedule of Planning Commission.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan responded to the call attention notice and assured that the remaining amount will be disbursed in the 6 weeks. He said that Rs 318 billion have been disbursed for development projects till May 20, 2014 while the remaining amount will be released by the end of the financial year. He acknowledged that Rs 115 billion could not be allocated for new initiatives, as it was already linked with the increase in revenue collection which was not materialised. However, he said that the revenue collection was Rs 65 billion more than the last financial year.
"The total PSDP allocation for the current financial year was Rs 540 billion, of which Rs 318 billion have been spent so far while the remaining amount will be disbursed by the end of the current fiscal year [and] Rs 115 billion bulk allocation was conditional with the revenue collection," he added.
WALKOUT The entire opposition staged a token walkout against a letter written by independent power producers (IPPs) threatening to increase electricity loadshedding up to 14 hours over non-payment of circular debt amounting to Rs 350 billion.
RAILWAYS AFFAIRS During question-hour, federal minister for railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that the government had purchased 58 locomotives from China after a prolonged brainstorming by the railways engineers and technicians. "Out of 58 locomotives, 14 have arrived in Pakistan, of which three could not work properly, but there is warranty. There were minor fault in these three locomotives but media wrongly propagated it without taking the ministry's point of view. These locomotives are hundred percent perfect and will increase PR performance," he maintained.
About the delay of trains, he said that it was due to outdated locomotives. But he said that with the passage of time, the average delay was reduced from 2.30 hours to 1.30 hour and all this is strictly being monitored.
To another question, the minister said that 96 passengers' trains were running in the country before 2013 and after 2013 the quantity remained the same but quality has been improved. To make the PR a profitable organisation, he said the government has increased freight trains, which is main source of earning of the department. He claimed that appropriate investment was not made in Pakistan Railways during the last five years, which further deteriorated PR situation. However, he assured the house that PR losses were decreasing gradually following hectic efforts and monitoring.
About staff of PR, the minister said: "in some areas there are overstaffing while in other areas there are shortage of staff. It requires rationalisation of the staff. Currently, only Police are being inducted in PR so as to ensure safety of PR infrastructure." He also told the house that at present 81568 persons are working in Pakistan Railways against the sanctioned strength of 95762. To a question by Senator Sughra Imam about the huge number of the employees, he said that PR did not meet the international standards in any way due to heavy induction through political affiliations.