26 November 2004	Friday	13 Shawwal 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: The opposition has decided not to boycott the Senate session beginning on Friday and to protest against the government's move to table a bill aimed to withdraw the Federal Public Service Commission's powers to make appointments on civilian posts in the Inter-Services Intelligence, sources said on Thursday.

According to the agenda for the session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan will table the Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2004 after the question hour on Friday. The bill has been passed by the National Assembly.

The opposition participated in debate on the bill in the National Assembly but strongly protested and boycotted the proceedings when that was passed. The sources said the opposition would adopt the same strategy in the Senate.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasir Khan will table the Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2004 and Shipping Minister Babar Khan Ghauri will introduce the Bill to Amend Gwadar Port Authority Ordinance 2002.

The sources told Dawn that the opposition did not have any objection to the bills. However the opposition would forcefully oppose the bill giving more powers to the ISI regarding appointments to its civilian posts, they said.

In the National Assembly, the opposition members had severely criticized the ISI's role in breaking and creating political parties. The parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians in the Senate, Raza Rabbani, said the opposition would chalk out its strategy for the session on an issue-to-issue basis.

He said the opposition would oppose the bill giving more powers to the ISI with full force. The PPP leader said he had moved an amendment to the bill, seeking formation of a parliamentary committee to scrutinize the appointments to be made by the ISI.

Responding to a question, he said the opposition would like to highlight the issue of President Gen Pervez Musharraf's military post in the house. He said the opposition would also raise the issue of the "government's failed Umra policy" which, he said, caused inconvenience to pilgrims.

He said the issue of "maltreatment of Badin fishermen by Rangers officials" would also be raised. He said the final strategy would be chalked out in a meeting of the parliamentary party of the Democratic Alliance before the session.

Sources said Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro had disallowed a resolution of PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar seeking discussion on the Badin fishermen's issue.