The memogate scandal eclipsed the National Assembly’s session on Tuesday, as a meeting between top civilian and military leaders remained the focus of parliamentarians’ and media’s attention.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislator Qudsia Arshad was the lone voice calling for the formation of a judicial commission to probe the memo controversy, as she was not supported by her own party colleagues.
However, an interesting situation developed when some PML-N legislators clashed with the parliamentarians of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) over allegations levelled by former Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza against MQM chief Altaf Hussain. MQM leader Sajid Ahmed triggered the debate about Mirza and invited the anger of PML-N legislators. Things were normal when, on a point of order, Ahmed proposed to invite Pir Mazharul Haq to the National Assembly session and enquire him about Mirza’s allegations against the MQM chief.
“Pir Mazhar has claimed that Mirza had levelled false allegations against Altaf Hussain … He should be called here to tell the truth to the nation about those false allegations,” he asserted. However, member of the National Assembly (MNA) Shireen Arshad responded quickly and called Mirza “a respectable member of the Sindh Assembly”, while forgetting that Mirza had resigned from the provincial legislature. “Dr Mirza had informed the nation on oath about the extortion and corruption of MQM. His documents should be shared with the nation,” she added.
PML-N leader Rohail Asghar also responded by saying that the Pakistani nation was facing a series of disasters because of four incidents of swearing by government ministers on the Holy Quran. He said the use of the holy book to make political statements had brought the country rampant killings, heavy floods, terrorism and high inflation.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir told the NA that work on the Lowari Tunnel project would start soon after receiving funds of Rs 2 billion. On a point of order by an MNA about suspended work on the project, Alamgir said the prime minister had sanctioned Rs 1 billion for the project, while another Rs 1 billion had been earmarked in the current year under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). He said the Korean construction company building the tunnel had halted work because of insufficient funds, adding that it would be asked to resume work after funds were made available. He said the Rs 18 billion tunnel project was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC). Meanwhile, the House referred to a point of order about the verification of arms licenses by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah said the Standing Committee on Interior should be directed to investigate into the matter and present its report in the House.
The House also adopted a bill by Justice (r) Fakhar-un-Nisa to further amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (The Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 2011, insertion of 377A, 377B and amendment of Schedule II) and referred it to the committee concerned.
Separately, Parliamentary Secretary for Industries Pir Haider Ali Shah informed the NA that production of urea fertiliser in the country was 400,000 tones more than the national requirement, adding that gas shortages were badly affecting the local fertiliser industry. Responding to a notice by Yasmeen Rehman and others regarding the unavailability of urea fertiliser and its high prices in the country, he said the government was providing a Rs 31 billion subsidy on urea. He added that the government was purchasing one bag of urea from the international market at Rs 3,000 and providing a subsidy of Rs 1,300 to 1,500 on it. He said that there was a shortage of 700,000 metric tones of urea in the country, adding that 200,000 metric tones urea had reached the port while 500,000 metric tones would arrive by December, 2011.
Regarding the unavailability of urea during the sowing season, the parliamentary secretary said the provinces were responsible to ensure the fertiliser’s availability and keep a check on hoarding and smuggling. Advisor to PM Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the law and order situation was a provincial subject and the federal government could not intervene in that directly.
The House was discussing the issue of law and order under Rule 87. MNAs Muhammad Pervaiz Malik, Nisar Tanveer, Tasneem Siddiqui, Shireen Arshad Khan and Nighat Parveen took part in the discussion. Khokhar said the Human Rights Ministry had no power to take action and stop human rights violations.
