Islamabad–
The joint session of the Parliament began on Tuesday around 12pm.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived at the Parliament but did not address the house.
During a speech by JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Javed Hashmi entered the session.
He was welcomed by an applause, momentarily interrupting Fazl’s speech.
Ch Nisar opens the session
Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan opening a debate on country’s current political situation by stating that Pakistan is at a sensitive junction.
He said that a small crowd of around 2,000 people is using unconstitutional means in the garb of democracy and constitution. He said that the whole parliament is united against this mob.
He said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran took a 360-turn in the past three months as he had previously promised to support the government.
Nisar also read out some statements by Pakistan Awami Tehreek Tahirul Qadri that those abandoning the Revolution March should be killed and the Parliament should be surrounded by his workers who would kill those coming out of the Parliament.
The interior minister also quoted Khan’s statements threatening the interior secretary Shahid Khan of consequences.
“These are the people we are dealing with, respected Speaker,” he said.
He said that the nation is being fooled by PTI and PAT with the idea of democracy.
Going on, Nisar said that the government granted permission to the parties to hold the rallies in Islamabad despite strong reservations.
He said that Imran Khan had assured him that he would not move further towards the Red Zone and that is why he issued him the permission for the rally.
Nisar said that the misconception that this was a democratic protest against government should be removed.
‘It is a mutiny against Pakistan,’ he said.
Nisar claimed that the protestors broke CCTV cameras when they stormed the PTV building and misbehaved with a lady staffer, snatching her cell phone and valuables.
“They are not revolutionaries, they are terrorists who are trained and armed with axes, wooden batons, nails, hammers, cutters and slingshots.
He apologised to the media for the police crackdown.
Aitzaz Ahsan supports, critiques govt
Senator and Pakistan People’s Party leader Aitzaz Ahsan followed Nisar’s speech.
He said that despite challenges, the opposition stands with democracy, adding that the support is not a favour to the government but in favour to democracy and the constitution.
Ahsan added that not only the media had been in the line of fire but the brutality in Model Town incident is also worth concern as it led Dr.Tahirul Qadri here.
‘Had the FIR for Model Town incident been filed, Tahirul Qadri would not be here today,’ he said.
He said that the reason why the police today is not following orders is because the government dumped all the blame on the police for the Model Town incident.
He said that it is witnessed that the government needed to change IG and DIGs repeatedly, asking the government to lead from the front and give police officials instructions in writing.
The senator went on to say that the protesters have some valid reservations and demands as there had been massive rigging in elections.
“Imran Khan’s allegations of corruption also hold weight,’ he said.
He said that the opposition stands behind the government adding that the support of opposition is unmatched in the history.
“No one can force you to resign as we all are backing the government.”
Ahsan said that the government needs to evaluate its mistakes once the current crisis is resolved.
Coming towards media, Aitzaz Ahsan said that the protestors were given too much airtime by the media channels.
He said that the nation had not paid heed to the calls by Khan and Qadri, critcising them for having a team that itself needs a revolution.
‘Revolutions are pure and true, not tainted,’ he said.
‘Revolutions cause a halt to railways and transport. Universities are abuzz with political activities. What kind of a revolution is this,’ he said.
Terming the protests an attack on Parliament, he asked how the government would stop a bigger crowd demanding to declare Shia Muslims as ‘infidels’ or call back the Army from Waziristan.
He said that the protest cannot be claimed to be peaceful because the protesters are armed, adding that those decrying attack on women and children have put them themselves in harm’s way and used them as shields.
Giving example of late PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, he said the BB was leading from the front in every PPP protests, ready to take the first baton while he himself was injured by pelted stones.
‘Can one forget the sight of a woman’s bleeding head. It was Begum Nusrat Bhutto who was hit by the first stone ,” he said
“Imran Khan cannot become Bhutto,” he said.
The senator reiterated support to the government.
“Mr PM, we are standing by you, not because we want to but for democracy. Once this crisis is over, we will continue to criticise your policies”, he said.
Achakzai’s speech
Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai in his speech said the parliament, judiciary and all political forces were on the same page to protect the democracy.
“We now request Pakistan Army to be with us as well”, he said.
He criticised PTI and PAT chiefs for damaging democracy, questioning how the protestors entered heavily guarded Red Zone despite imposition of Article 245.
Achakzai termed the protesters as ‘gypsies’, urged them to leave and also called upon the PM to order a crackdown against them.
“This is not a protest, this is terrorism.”
If state institutions are attacked, it is clearly terrorism,” he said.
MQM’s stance
Deputy Convener Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui addressed the Parliament and said that his party is ready to make sacrifices for continuation of democracy.
He urged that the PM should strengthen democracy, adding that ‘ we cannot think of the government as our family property’.
He demanded that justice should be served in Model Town incident and if it was a conspiracy, the government should produce evidence to justify its claim.
He said that had they (MQM) called for a civil disobedience, they would have been charged under article 6.
The MQM leader, in the end, warned that if the crowd of a few hundreds so much as looks at Karachi with such intentions , it will pay for it.
JUI-F leader Fazl’s stance
JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman in his speech expressed that he is glad that the elected representatives took a stand for democracy.
He said that a conspiracy against democracy was caught and they would now not let the conspiracy to succeed.
He said that we are being denied democracy.
“Our Parliament got attacked and we just sat there and watched,” he remarked.
He urged to fix the current crisis without use of power.
He said that the attack on PTI building and thrashing police officers has given a very unfavourable impression of Pakistan to the rest of the world.
‘If the army goes to them, they listen. What kind of a message are they giving?’, he asked.
He urged the to government to free Islamabad from the ‘mob’, adding that Pakistan’s relations with other countries are being affected due to current political crisis.
Javed Hashmi’s address
Javed Hashmi is currently addressing the Parliament.
He said that only a parliamentary system could save this country.
” I have come here to testify that the country can only be saved by a parliamentary democracy and the constitution,’ he said.
“I am thankful to the people of Multan, Lahore, Pindi, Islamabad for the times they’ve elected me as their representative. I am still the elected president of PTI,” he said.
He said the Nawaz Sharif had been given many chances but the country is not prosperous.
He said that Sharif should give respect to the views of MNAs.
“I worked with him but I left when it was not working out,” he said.
We should get over our personal preferences and work in the best interests of Pakistan,” he added.
“Why haven’t the governement taken any action over the Model Town incident?” Hashmi questioned.
He said that the present system itself is responsible from breaking the government.
“Why did the PM not visit the Parliament for 14 months”, he asked fiercely.
Talking about Imran Khan, he said that Khan has tremendous following among the youth. He said that the PTI chief had treated him with respect.
Reteirating his statements over Imran Khan, he said that he did not make the revelations before because he was trying to convince PTI members.
Imran had promised me he would not go against the constitution, he said.
He said that when Imran Khan told him he wanted to hold a rally at D-chowk, he supported him but when he began demanding a government of technocrats, he told Khan that the SC does not have such kind of power.
Hashmi said that he could not stand with the people seeking to destroy the Parliament. He said he asked Imran Khan how he could stand with Tahirul Qadri despite differences in their demands.
“Imran Khan stands for change in the system while Qadri wants to derail it,” he said.
He said that a trial should be held of the Parliament and not Imran Khan.
Concluding his speech, he said that there had been dissent among PTI members when they were asked to submit their resignation but here, today, he voluntarily resigns from his seat in the National Assembly.