The Senators came up with divergent views on Tuesday over the statement of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), some saying Army is the custodian of the country's frontiers while the others were adamant that every institution must remain within its constitutional ambit.
Taking part in the debate over law and order situation in the country with particular reference to Karachi, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, Senator Shahi Syed of Awami National Party (ANP) termed the COAS statement as a "political speech."
"It was a political speech and it so happened as everybody is not in the habit of looking about his own follies...we all should mend our own fences and stay within our constitutional limits," he added.
Contrary to the speech of his fellow parliamentarian, Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashahdi (Retd) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) could not control his emotions for the institution - which he served for so many years - reminded the house not to forget that Army has made countless sacrifices for the defence of the motherland.
"This army cleared Swat and Malakand Division from militants and gave the locals a sigh of relief. It never lost a battle and remains ready all the time to give a tit-for-tat response to enemies of Pakistan, which is enough to make us proud," he maintained.
The former military colonel lambasted the pundits of religion, holding them solely responsible for promoting extremism, which gave rise to terrorism in the country. "They were against creation of Pakistan from the very onset and gave Quaid-e-Azam a tough time by supporting congress," he added.
In response to a speech made by Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Mashahdi said Pakistan was always a secular country, where everybody has freedom of speech. The Pakistan is burning today due to the stubborn attitude of clerics, who always distorted history for their vested interests, he added.
Abdul Ghafoor Haidri of JUI-F claimed that Quaid-e-Azam never declared Pakistan as a secular state. Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam and a welfare state, he said, adding that this was the reason, a large number of clerics migrated to Pakistan.
Mashahdi called upon the JUI-F senator not to distort the history, as Quaid-e-Azam in his numerous speeches stated that Pakistan is a secular state. "Jinnah never dreamt of a theological Pakistan as claimed by some elements, who dubbed him as "Kafer-e-Azam" for his secular ideology and enlightened thought," he said.
In a thought-provoking speech over deteriorating law and order situation in the country, Senator Hasil Bizenjo blamed the government for nurturing the militant organisations, which, he warned, if not reigned in, will further destabilise the country.
Terming Karachi as the root-cause of militancy, he said the state itself is involved in promoting militant groups. He alleged that the members of the militant groups are being released on parole on confessing their crime.
"The Chief Justice went to Karachi himself to have a first hand knowledge of the situation, and came to know that the crimes are being committed there in connivance with sitting ministers, MNAs, MPAs, how can you restore law and order when people sitting at the helm of affairs are fully behind these criminal forces," he said.
Quoting WikiLeaks, given by former US ambassador Ann W Peterson, he said MQM has 15000 trained armed militants, both Baloch and Sindhis 3500 while number of Pashtoon drug mafia and Taliban armed group is 15000.
"The sum total of these armed groups becomes 33,500.....they are roaming scot-free in the mega city on the political backing of their masters...how can you achieve peace when you yourself back and equip them with rocket launchers," he lamented.
He said the time has come to decide whether to support these terror elements, who have disturbed the peace in every nook and corner of the country. Mere lip service can not eradicate this chronic disease, he said, adding that the government must decide seriously to get rid of these terror elements, which it has been nurturing since decades.
ABIDI TURNS VIOLENT
Senator Faisal Raza Abidi of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) again turned violent and passed some derogatory remarks against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which were expunged by deputy chairman Senate Sabir Baloch.
This infuriated Abidi, who abruptly got out of his seat and approached the chairman rostrum, protesting not to expunge his remarks, saying he has been restricted by the apex court not to say a word against the judges, who what he said are "involved in violating the law, made by Chief Justice himself."
He demanded of the deputy speaker to summon chairman Pemra to inquire as to why a senator is not allowed to participate in any talk show on private TV channels. He said the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) clearly stated in its notification No 01/2009/SJC dated September 2, 2009 about the code of conduct for judges of the apex court, including Supreme Court and High Court vide as the prime duty of a judge is to present before the public an image of justice of the nation.
"Anybody can file a complaint with SJC against the misconduct of a judge. The Chief justice is using the power to save his son, and he is guilty of violating the constitution," he said.
The enraged senator warned of creating a law and order situation after Ashura Muharram, if his plea is not taken seriously by the House. "Which law and order you are talking about...I'm the worst victim of law and order, if you are unable to resolve my case, what can you do to improve the law and order situation in the country," he added.