Chairperson of the National Assembly Yasmeen Rehman on the demand of the members has summoned the Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) today (Thursday) to appear before the Privilege Committee of the House to explain about the notices issued to former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his son Abdul Qadir Gilani.
MNA Abdul Qadir Gilani son of former Prime Minister Gilani raised the matter regarding notices concerning Hajj corruption scam and purchasing bullet-proof vehicle, issued by the FIA on the floor of the House. He said that in this case he has cleared his position before FIA and submitted documents about bullet-proof vehicle and Hajj corruption case. He said that Supreme Court of Pakistan has also cleared him in the case. Imran Shah, who filed the case himself withdrew it from the Court, he said.
He said that after two years, once again the FIA issued notices to him and former Prime Minister Gilani. He said that FIA had summoned the former Prime Minister while the concerned minister says that the matter is not in his control. "It is an insult; the minister should resign when he says that the matter is not in his control or Chairperson, we should be allowed to leave the House. Now on what grounds we are being summoned while the Supreme Court has cleared us."
He also claimed that a proper security is not being provided to the former Prime Minister Gilani while Swat and Abbottabad operations were conducted in his tenure. "Our lives and property has been left at the mercy of terrorists." He said that the FIA is threatening him while nobody from parliament or Interior Ministry is taking any notice. "If the parliament did not take any action against the notices of the FIA, I will resign," he added. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs regretted on the issue and said that former Prime Minister Gilani served the country for four and half years. He said that the 1973 constitution and judges were restored in his tenure. He said that the former Prime Minister stopped the political victimisation, gave respect to the opposition and importance to the parliament.
"Mrs Chairperson, the Parliament should order DG FIA to come here tomorrow (Thursday) for issuing notice to former Prime Minister. He (DG FIA) should be here on Thursday at 10:00 am, if he does not come then he should be brought to the parliament handcuffed," he said.
Federal Minister for Information Qmamr Zaman Kair said that a meeting of Privilege Committee of the House should be called and DG FIA should be summoned to explain the matter. Syed Samsam Bukhari said that there is no need of resignations and parliament is not so weak that we have to tender resignations.
Rana Tanveer Ahmed of PML-N said that it is not an insult, as the former Prime Minister has run the House amicably. He should go if he was called by any institution. Qamar Zaman Kaira said no law exists in the world that permits anybody to insult the member of the parliament or former Prime Minister. He said that agencies have right of investigation but not for insulting.
Bushra Gauhar of Awami National Party (ANP) said that no one is above the law. The former Prime Minister appeared before the Supreme Court three times. But in the case of accountability of any person, why we are showing resentment or becoming emotional, he said.
She raised the issues about a senior minister of Punjab government and political agent of Fata who used helicopters. She said that it should be checked whether they can use helicopter. The parliament and Punjab government should take notice of misuse of public money, he said. At the end, Yasmeen Rehman who was chairing the House said while giving ruling that the Chairman of the Privilege Committee should call a meeting within 48 hours and summon DG FIA and concerned officials to discuss matter raised by Abdul Qadir Gialni.