22 September 2004	Wednesday	06 Shaban 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 21: An unprecedented rumpus was witnessed in the Senate on Tuesday evening when opposition senators and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan traded harsh words and to avert an ugly situation the chair adjourned the session briefly.

The brawl started during the speeches for and against a court verdict sentencing former speaker Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. The opposition accused the government of victimizing the former speaker for refusing to cooperate whereas the government side defended the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court verdict.

The house also passed a condolence resolution expressing its deep sorrow over the sad demise of a Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal's MNA and eminent religious scholar from the NWFP, Maulana Inayatur Rehman, which was read out by Prof Khursheed Ahmed.

Later, both sides admitted that the rowdyism witnessed in the Senate was unprecedented in the national history which, they said, was uncalled for and ought to be avoided in future.

Most of the acrimony revolved around allegations of the changing of loyalties by certain legislators who the opposition alleged got lucrative posts in the government while those refusing to desert their parties were victimized by the NAB.

The House saw brewing up of another bout between the opposition and Minister for Law and Justice Wasi Zafar but then the opposition staged a protest walkout against the chair for allowing the minister to utter derogatory remarks against the opposition parties when they were allowed to speak on the jail sentence of Mr Gilani.

The deputy chairman of Senate in an attempt to appease the treasury benches asked one member from their side to respond to every speech of the opposition members against the sentence of former speaker.

Initiating the debate, Mian Raza Rabbani, parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians, said: "Today, the parliament is in chains as its powers are being encroached upon and its former speaker has been sentenced to 15 years (accumulative) even in violation of NAB ordinance which allows a maximum of 10 years imprisonment."

He alleged that reference against Mr Gilani was processed after failing to get his loyalties changed. Asfandyar Khan Wali of the Awami National Party generated quite a heat by his remarks when he said that there were some "NAB zadas" (sons of NAB) and others NAB zaddas (NAB victims).

He said that the first prime minister of the present government, Zafarullah Khan Jamali, was afforded a thin majority thanks to NAB. Dr Sher Afgan Niazi was ridiculed by the opposition when he tried to defend himself against the allegations of becoming a turncoat.

Dr Safdar Abbasi and Enwar Baig of the Parliamentarians were too vocal in decrying the arguments articulated by the minister. Senate deputy chairman reprimanded the minister at one point by addressing him, "Mr minister the atmosphere of this house is quite different to that of the National Assembly and try to remain within the decorum."

Prof Khursheed of the MMA termed the sentence of former speaker as shameful and against the sanctity of parliament. He asked for evolving of an accountability system of parliamentarians by parliament as a sovereign body.

He said in his view all needs of justice were not fulfilled in case of former speaker's sentence and termed the NAB's role as disputed and partial. On the occasion, minister for law and justice provoked the opposition by his remarks when he addressed the PPP directly by accusing it to have been trying to join the government through backdoor talks in last four years.

He also accused the former government of Nawaz Sharif for filing of reference against the ex-speaker, a claim which was immediately challenged by Pakistan Muslim League-N's Ishaq Dar.

His remarks led to the harsh exchanges of allegations which finally led to opposition's staging a token walkout. Raza Mohammad Raza said: "We condemn and reject as unconstitutional and illegal the sentence of former speaker." NAB, he added, was set up to undermine and subjugate democratic institutions and democratic people.

Only one item out of 50-item agenda, discussion on public transport system, was debated by the house before it was adjourned till Thursday afternoon. The issues relating to the transport system were referred to the house committee on communications.

The senators lashed out at the most unplanned and irregular transport system in the country which they stressed needed an overhaul and streamlining to meet the needs of commuters.

They alleged that the car manufacturers did not allow establishment of a sound transport system in the country. Exemption of a certain civilian group from payment of toll tax was opposed. Overloading, over-charging and over speeding were identified as some most disturbing aspects of the transport system.

Some members strongly condemned giving monopoly to Varan to run its buses on twin cities roads which they felt was damaging the interests of common man. The speakers included, Raza Mohammad Raza, the mover, Ms Tanvir Khalid, Nisar A.Memon, Wasim Sajjad, Naeem Hussain Chattha, Abdullah, Abbas Kumaili, Mohammad Hussain, Dr Murad Ali Shah, Nighat Agha, Dr Saeed and Farhatullah Babar.

Earlier, the opposition also raised the issue of delay in holding of draws for determination of three or six years term for the senators as laid down in the Constitution.

They said the delay was cause of concern for the senators, who, even after two years, did not know as to what was their term limit. Senate deputy chairman said that the Election Commission was responsible for doing the needful and it should now be done without further delay.