The joint opposition in the Senate on Wednesday boycotted proceedings of the House in protest against Punjab government for stopping opposition leader of National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah from taking part at rally of Kissan Ittehad Convention in Lahore. Speaking on a point of public importance in Senate soon after the question-hour was over, Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, the opposition leader in Senate, said that the way an opposition leader was treated when he was going to participate at farmers' rally is not acceptable.
He claimed that the Punjab government has not only stopped the opposition leader in the National Assembly, but also a large number of farmers were arrested. "The way the government is treating the farmers of the country is quite shameful. What's the fault of these farmers? Can't they even protest for their legitimate rights," he questioned.
He accused the Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar of befooling the farmers under the pretext of different packages. According to Senator Aitzaz, International Monetary Fund (IMF) strongly objected to Rs 341 billion Kisan Package announced by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He continued that when the IMF objected over the Kissan package announced by the Prime Minister, the Finance Minister immediately assured the IMF that the Kissan package is Rs 30 billion and not Rs 341 billion. "This is what this government is doing with the poor farmers...the Prime Minister announced Rs 341 billion Kissan package but when the IMF objected to it, the Finance Minister said it's not Rs 30 billion rather it's Rs 341 billion," he added.
With this, he staged a walkout from the House and was joined by all opposition parties including Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Dr Jehanzeb Balochistan National Party-Mengal. "It's not a boycott, it is a boycott of the today's proceedings," he added.
Sheikh Aftab, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, clarified that no one has stopped the opposition leader of National Assembly, and he is now, leading a rally of the farmers at Davis Road in Lahore. "There is no truth in what Aitzaz has said...Khursheed Shah was present at Manzoor Wattoo's residence in Lahore; then he had a cup of tea at a local hotel, and now he is leading the rally of the farmers at Davis Road," he added.
Meanwhile, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman retuned to the House and pointed out the quorum, which forced Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani to suspend proceedings of the House for 30 minutes after the quorum could not be completed despite ringing the bells. The chairman adjourned the House till Thursday at 3pm due to lack of quorum as the joint opposition did not return to the House despite efforts by leader of the House in Senate Rajaz Zafarul Haq who went to the woo the opposition on the directives of the chair but to no avail.