The National Assembly was abruptly prorogued on Monday without discussing and recommending input to the government for evolving a strategy against militancy and extremism in the light the report of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has asked the House on Friday to discuss the report presented to National Assembly by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security Council and recommend measures for evolving a national strategy to counter the menace of militancy and extremism in the country.
The motion to take up the report of National Security was on the order of the day for the National Assembly but was neither taken up nor did anybody from the either sides of the House raised a word why the session was prorogued without taking up the business for which it was extended?
The members of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) criticised the government for not taking up the business of the House seriously when the House started proceeding about over an hour late. As the House began proceeding Riaz Pirizada stood up on a point of order and said that House was to meet at 4:00 pm but started at 5:30 pm because of the non-serious attitude of the government.
Begum Shahnaz Sheikh brought more embarrassment for the government by pointing out quorum and subsequently on counting the 342-seat assembly was found lack of required quorum of its one-fourth or 86 members. Only 73 members were present in the House at that time.
Haider Abbas Rizvi who was presiding over the proceedings in the absence of both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker remarked when House resumed sitting after 20 minutes that neither a point nor quorum could be pointed out during the question hour. He also ruled that all the members should observe the Parliamentary traditions and should not undermine its sanctity by passing un-parliamentary remarks about any member or leader of any political parties.
This ruling or remarks came from the Chair when leader of the Opposition Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan on a point of personal explanation said that a member in his speech attributed some allegation against him.
He said that he had never made any speech against any person but always criticised the policies but Parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Faisal Saleh Hayat alleged him of having contacts with former President Musharraf. "I have never met Musharraf in Mangla or at his residence" he said adding that it was Faisal who deceived Benazir Bhutto when she was in difficult time.
Unlike him, Nisar said he never changed loyalty and remained committed to his party and leadership from last 25 years. Whereas, Faisal, he said had changed three political parties during the last three years. Nisar said he would have changed the party fourth time had he not been opposing him. He was clearly suggesting that Faisal wanted to join the PNL-N.
He also clarified that his brother Lieutenant General (Retd) Iftikhar Ali Khan was promoted to the Secretary Defence in 1997 during Nawaz Sharif government and not in 1993-94 as claimed by the Faisal Saleh Hayat. Chaudhary Nisar wanted the Chair to probe the matter and ask the member to tender an apology for making allegations against him because of personal grudges. He also wanted Chair to take a pledge from him that in future he would only speak on policy matter.
Babar Ghari of MQM also stood up on a point of order and said that opposition leader should also apologise for making personal remarks about their leader and hope that he would set a precedent in the House by doing so. Nisar replied that he had not made any personal remarks about MQM and Altaf Hussain, Chief of MQM and what he said was about their policies.