Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers on Thursday took a swipe at the attitude of PML-N legislators in the Upper House, saying that they did not have the courage to listen the voice of reason.
“We should be having debate on budget and discuss country’s economy. It is not fair to just criticise the government and then leave the House without listening to the members from treasury benches,” Leader of the House in Senate Jahangir Badar said while commenting at PML-N’s move to walkout from the budget session.
Nisar Muhammad, a PML-N senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while opening the budget debate launched an attack against the government and targeted the discretionary funds. He said the PPP was obliging its workers through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) He added that Malakand Agency was being neglected despite the fact that it suffered heavily due to terrorism. After speaking in the House for almost an hour, he said that his party had decided to stage a walkout due to the constitutional implications after the Supreme Court’s ruling in the contempt case.
PPP Senator Jahangir Badar said that the PML-N should have the courage to listen to others as well. “If they (PML-N) have any data about corruption, they should present the figures. We will also present details as who have been supporting military dictators in different periods and plundering the national wealth,” he added.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Ishaq Dar urged all parliamentarians to abide by parliamentary norms and traditions and avoid raising fingers on any member of the National Assembly in the Upper House.
Responding to Mutkhtar Ahmad Dhamra’s remarks about Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, he said, “We should observe parliamentary and democratic norms. It is our foremost duty to respect both the houses and should not discuss any member on floor of the House.” He said that the opposition leader in the National Assembly was an elected member who had already made it clear that he never made any humiliating remarks about Sindhi cap and Ajrak.
Dar requested the Chair to expunge Dhamra’s whole speech against Chaudhry Nisar as the speech was based on mere speculation. Acting Senate Chairman Sabir Baloch said that Nisar was an honourable member of the National Assembly and hence should be given due respect. He expunged remarks against the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
Mir Hasil Bizenjo drew the attention of the chair that it was a very important budget session, but the relevant ministers did not bother to come.
Upon this Sabir Baloch expressed his annoyance and asked Leader of the House Jahangir Badar to ensure presence of concerned ministers during the budget debate. Jahangir Badar assured the House that presence of the ministers would be ensured.
