Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was forced to be on the defensive by the noisy opposition in the Senate when he wrongfully opposed a privilege motion by Senator Asfandyar Wali. The Senate Chairman, Mohammadmian Soomro, reserved his ruling on whether or not to refer the motion to the House privilege committee.
The offended opposition cooled down only after Leader of the House Senator Wasim Sajjad apologised and conceded that it was their mistake they could not communicate to the minister the understanding reached earlier between the two sides. The ANP senator reminded the minister that the matter was not related to his ministry, therefore, his opposition was uncalled for.
After a brief verbal clash between the senator and the minister, the latter, went out of the House and in his place State Minister for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warraich made his way to the Senate.
The controversy erupted following the minister's no to referring Senator Asfandyar Wali's motion, about the security forces tear-gassing him and his partymen at Bajaur, to the concerned committee.
Immediately after the recitation from the Holy Quran, Awami National Party president was on his feet to narrate the events, which culminated in the forces resorting to tear-gas and firing to stop him from visiting the Bajaur seminary.
The senator withdrew the motion after its opposition by the minister. However, the Senate chairman assured the opposition that he would be reserving his ruling on the issue. Soomro also believed that it was a gut reaction by the minister, stemming out of a misunderstanding.