Senators belonging to different political parties on Wednesday welcomed the decision of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri to end his 70-day-long protest sit-in in federal capital and to take part in the electoral process, describing the move as success of the democracy.
The senators who were speaking on points of order in the House also called upon Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan to wind up the sit-in and take active part in the country's democratic process and its development. "We welcome the announcement made by Dr Tahirul Qadri to wind up the protest sit-in and joining the club", said PPP's Senator Rehman Malik who is member of the political jirga tasked to hold talks with Qadri and Imran Khan.
Malik said that it was made possible due to the efforts by the political jirga and he also called upon Imran Khan to wind up his sit-in as almost all his demands have been fulfilled except resignation of the Prime Minister. He said that a wrong message was going to the world that the federal capital has been besieged by the protesters, which is preventing the investors to come.
"We have categorically conveyed to both Dr Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan that there is no provision in the Constitution to pave the way for resignation of the Prime Minister", he said, adding that they should understand the fact. He said that it was also welcoming that the government is also extending all facilities to PTI and PAT for holding their protest rallies in various cities and the provincial governments were not making any hindrance in their protests.
Malik gave the credit to PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who according to him extended his support to democracy and prevented any undemocratic move in the country. However, he said that he would give a detailed statement in the house today (Thursday) to reveal various conspiracies against the democracy. Haji Ghulam Ali of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) also welcomed the step taken by Dr Qardi to end his sit-in protest and announcing to become part of the electoral process.
In his observation, the presiding officer Sabil Ali Baloch stated in light tune "the person who wanted to send others home, himself picked up and left for home". PPP's Moula Bakhsh Chandio also appreciated the step taken by Tahirul Qadri and also appealed the PTI chief Imran Khan to follow the suit. However, he warned that the threat to democracy was not completely over with winding up of the PAT sit-in and there are still threats to the democracy.
According to him, there were also some positive results of protest sit-ins as PML-N ministers have turned to the Parliament by recognising its importance. Leader of the opposition Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, while speaking during question-hour when some senators were protesting against the absence of Defence Minister in the house to respond his questions, said that the minister should understand his responsibilities in order to avert the public wrath.
Referring to the protest demonstrations against the parliament and the specific slogans being chanted by PTI and PAT workers, Aitzaz said that the ministers should not forget their responsibilities and give more importance to the parliament. Raza Rabbani of the PPP strongly protested against the absence of the ministers, especially the Defence Minister to respond the quires of the senators during question-hour, adding that the PML-N ministers were not paying any attention to their responsibilities. He said the absence of the ministers was manifestation of the fact that the government was still not recognising the importance of the parliament.
He also threatened to stage walkout from the house. however, leader of the house Raja Zafarul Haq assured the house that he would make sure that ministers concerned would be present to respond quires of the senators. "Otherwise, I will also be part of the opposition to stage walkout against the attitude of the ministers in case of their continued absence", he added.
The house also adopted an adjournment motion moved by ANP Senator Zahid Khan against the killing of two members of the Sikh community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the presiding officer fixed Monday for debate on the motion. Raza Rabbani while speaking on a point order called upon the government to take the parliament into confidence on the situation arising out of the Indian aggression on LoC and the working boundary. He said the Prime Minister who is also holding the portfolio of Foreign Minister or his Adviser Sartaj Aziz should take the house into confidence on the LoC situation and also on the statement by a federal minister that Pakistan can also opt using the nuclear weapons in case of the Indian aggression. "These are very sensitive matters which need explanation and also stance of the government to be given in the parliament", Rabbani added.
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