Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Wednesday criticised the remarks of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif regarding the Supreme Court and said if judiciary is harmed then anarchy would spread across the country.
While speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, the Opposition Leader said that the chief minister Punjab should withdraw his words about judiciary and apologise from the whole nation. He said that the protection of the institutions is vital for the survival of the country. "If we harm the judiciary then the law 'might is right' will exist in the country," he added.
"The institutions are being destroyed and targeted to save only one family. The institutions are being pressurised and efforts are afoot to make them controversial by giving statements against them," he said.
Shahbaz Sharif had stated while speaking to the media after a ceremony in Lahore, "To hold a single family accountable is not accountability." Shah said that Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) never expressed anti-state sentiments even when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death.
Afterwards, the Opposition Leader announced to boycott the proceedings of the House in protest on the remarks of Punjab chief minister and against the federal government for not allowing live coverage of their budget speeches on the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV).
While responding the opposition, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Barjees Tahir said that the government is ready to take opposition onboard but the attitude of the opposition members is not serious. He said the opposition members should highlight the problems of their constituencies in the House but they have failed to perform their due role in the budget discussion.
Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said that the opposition leader is responsible for not allowing members to speak in the budget discussion. He said that the PPPP and PTI should compare performance of their governments in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab province.
Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that the PPPP has failed to deliver in Sindh and it should focus on the province rather than levelling baseless allegations against the federal government. He said that the PPPP made historic corruption in Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project and Nandipur Power Project. He said that Musharraf promulgated National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to protect the corruption of PPPP.
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that PML-N believes in supremacy of the judiciary and has all respect for the judges. He said PML-N leadership and its members have always presented themselves for accountability and will continue the same practice in future with the same spirit.
He said, "Asif Ali Zardari is a scientist of corruption and there is no other such scientist. Zardari has adopted such techniques of corruption which the great scientist Albert Einstein even could not adopt."
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Asiya Nasir said that no proper action has been taken against the doctor who refused to treat a Christian in Umerkot district. Similarly, she expressed her reservations over an advertisement for the posts of sanitary workers given by the mayor Karachi.
While responding, Nawab Yousaf Talpur of PPPP said that Sindh government has taken action against the doctor. He said that strict action would be taken against the other people who were involved in the incident.
Participating in the debate, Iftikharuddin congratulated the government on presenting the federal budget for the fifth consecutive time. He said the government's steps for strengthening economy are appreciable. Awais Ahmad Leghari appreciated the government's steps for uplift of the agriculture sector in the country. He proposed that the markup rate on loan for farmers should be reduced and efficiency of Zarai Taraqiati Bank be enhanced.
He said that the government should take measures for investment in water infrastructure. He said, "Water crisis would be a big challenge of the country in future if we do not take necessary action today. The issue of water could become the issue of national security." He called for early approval of National Water Policy which has been prepared.
He said that the government should also take steps for mother care and maternity.
He also proposed to privatise electricity feeders for recovery of electricity bills.
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