The National Assembly on Tuesday approved demands for grants amounting to Rs 90.7 billion for the ministries of Interior, Water and Power and Religious Affairs, while the treasury and opposition benches joined and called upon the chair to allow PPP-Sherpao leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao to deliver a detailed speech.
The House with a majority vote rejected the cut motions tabled by the number-weak opposition who had announced to withdraw its cut motions against Khurshid Shah’s Religious Affairs Ministry. Majority of the opposition MPs grilled Interior Minister Rehman Malik for his “poor performance” and the unabated corruption in his ministry. Malik said he could expose many robbers who had plundered the national exchequer and who were involved in looting the state banks.
The House approved nine demands of over Rs 55.69 billion for the Interior Ministry and its attached departments with majority votes rejecting all cut motion presented by the Opposition. Shireen Arshad Khan, Tahria Aurangzaib, Khalida Mansoor, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Qudsia Arshad, Nuzhat Sadiq, Asia Nasir, Shakir Bashir Awan and Khalida Mansoor submitted their cut motions. Mehtab Abbasi of the PML-N criticised the Interior Ministry’s performance and said there was no law and order across the country and the ministry had failed to provide security to the citizens.
He said incidents of targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom and other crimes had increased. He said NADRA had failed to nab the culprits involved in issuing fake computerised national identity cards. Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch said law enforcement agencies should be brought under the command of local government and administration. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said civil armed forces had rendered many sacrifices in the war against terrorism and their budget should be enhanced.
He said the foreign and internal policies should be framed under the supervision of public representatives. Barjees Tahir said investors had stopped investing in the country due to poor law. He alleged that the ministry and its departments had become dens of corruption and even transfers and postings were made after taking bribes. Shaikh Rohail Asghar criticised NADRA and FIA and said culprits of the Haj scam were not yet brought to justices. He said journalists were being subjected to torture and no inquiry reports had been presented in the House so far.
Shareen Arshad said appointment of the FIA chief should be purely based on merit and not be politicised. She said the policy of war on terror should be reviewed. Raja Asad Khan said protection of life and property was the prime responsibility of the government and it should be ensured at all cost.