Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Farhatullah Babar has resigned from the Senate Standing Committee on Defence. According to sources, there is a different viewpoint of Babar on missing persons, constitutional powers of the Parliament and establishment. Babar has given strong statements about fixing responsibility regarding elements behind missing persons and establishment.
When contacted, Babar refused to comment on the reasons for his resignation but raised questions over parliamentarians visiting the General Headquarters (GHQ). He said when the Parliament asked GHQ to produce documents, it was informed that sensitive documents cannot be brought out of the GHQ. "Can the GHQ not ensure security of sensitive documents for even 15 kilometers?" Babar asked.
The members of the Standing Committees of Defence of the Senate and National Assembly had visited the GHQ and met with the Chief of Army Staff last month. During the visit, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had said that he wanted enhanced interaction with the Parliament.
Answering a question, Babar said, "The Parliament is the weakest of the state institutions. Even the questions asked in the Parliament are not being answered. The Parliament makes laws but it cannot implement the laws. For example, the Parliament enacted a law so that banned organisations do not work with changed names. But the banned organisations have been allowed to operate after changing their names." Answering another question, he said, "The Supreme Court, Commission on Enforced Disappearances and Parliament, all have raised voice and tried to do whatever is possible; however, the people are continuously disappearing mysteriously.