Parliamentarians unanimous on Parliament’s supremacy

*Opp leader Khursheed Shah says PTI, PAT demonstrators should quit protests and negotiate solution to political crisis

*Lawmaker Gulzar Khan lambasts PTI chief for not taking notice of rigging in intra-party polls in KP

The joint session of Parliament was prorogued on Friday after unanimously passing a resolution reiterating its unequivocal and unwavering support for the supremacy of Parliament, Constitution, democracy and state institutions.

The resolution moved by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar condemned the “motives and unconstitutional demands” of those staging sit-ins on Islamabad’s Constitution Avenue besides condemning the trespassing of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers into the Parliament House.

National Assembly Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah expressed the view that the joint session has been “very fruitful and result-oriented in the prevailing circumstances” and thanked the government for summoning it.

“It gives a message that all parliamentary parties are unanimously protecting the democratic system and the Constitution,” he said, adding that only the Parliament has the right to take decisions on important national issues.

“The Parliament has exhibited political experience while representing the people of Pakistan.”

The Opposition and treasury have always been at odds with each other but circumstances have changed now, he said, adding that no one could demand the office of prime minister through a shortcut as there is an electoral procedure to assume that office.

PPP PARLIAMENTARIANS FOLLOWING BHUTTO’S VISION:

Shah reiterated that his PPP’s founding leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had laid the foundation of Pak-China friendship and he was the one who brought a “real revolution” by making Pakistan a nuclear power and bestowing the country with a Constitution that “we are so determined to protect”.

He said that all areas Pakistan besides Constitution Avenue remained peaceful and some 6,000 to 10,000 demonstrators were not able to hamper the way of Pakistan.

“We want the demonstrators to quit protests and sit and talk over political issues as there is no definite enemy or friends in politics”, he said, adding that politics should not be allowed to tarnish the country’s image.

Talking about the division of Sindh, he said that Sindh has an 800-year-old history so why would anyone talk about its division. He expressed support for holding of Local Bodies elections in Sindh and devolution of power to the grassroots.

‘MUTINY AGAINST STATE:

Senator Shahi Syed said that those staging sit-ins are committing a “mutiny against the state”. He said that the protesting parties are maligning state institutions including the Parliament under a well-planned conspiracy, while adding that all political parties deserve appreciation for standing together to protect the democratic system.

He said that Nawaz Sharif is an elected prime minister of 180 million people and deserves credit for the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and for taking concrete steps for the revival of economy.

Senator Mohsin Leghari said local bodies’ (LB) elections should be conducted to devolve political and administrative powers to the grass root level, adding that this would strengthen the democratic system in true spirit.

Lawmaker Gulzar Khan said that political parties should continue to demonstrate unity in their ranks so that the anti-democratic forces do not succeed in their designs.

“PTI Chairman Imran Khan is raising hue and cry over rigging in 2013 General Elections but he did not take any notice of rigging in PTI’s intra-party polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Gulzar.

Speaking in the House, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Parliamentarian Dr Farooq Sattar said that new provinces should be carved out on the basis of administrative requirements and a commission should be set up to speed up work for this purpose.

The MQM lawmakers later staged a walkout in protest against the PTI’s statements against MQM chief Altaf Hussain for demanding setting up of more administrative units and provinces in the country.