ISLAMABAD, June 14: The Senate on Tuesday witnessed differences among treasury members on the Mukhtaran Mai issue as some senators demanded a debate while others wanted to hush up the matter. Senator S.M. Zafar of the ruling PML said the prime minister should use his discretionary powers and order removal of Mukhtaran Mai’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

He said the country’s image was distorted by the fact that her name had been put on the ECL, adding that no harm would be done if she was allowed to proceed abroad. Senator Zafar said the Human Rights Society of Pakistan decided two years ago to give Mukhtaran Mai the human rights award in recognition of her struggle for justice.

He said important personalities like Justice Cornelius, Hakeem Said, Justice Patel and others were some of the recipients of the award.

Senator Zafar said if Mai succeeded in her struggle, it would save many others the fate which she had suffered. He said the NGOs should not exaggerate the case and the government should provide her security.

Senator Pari Gul Agha was among those members who did not want the issue to be debated and said when the superior courts were seized with the matter, it should not be discussed on the floor of the house. She said those who were fed by the NGOs raised the matter every other day in the house.

At one stage when Senator Tahira Latif wanted to tell the house about her meeting with Mukhtaran Mai on a lunch at the Islamabad Club on Tuesday, Senator Pari Gul asked her not to raise the issue.

However, Senator Tahira Latif persisted with her point and told the house that Mai was a brave woman from an humble background and different government departments were taking good care of her.

Senator Kulsoom Parveen said cases like those of Dr Shazia and Mukhtaran Mai should not be highlighted. “Mukhtaran Mai should seek justice from Allah,” she said. Mukhtaran Mai, being an eastern woman, should not go abroad, she added.

Opposition’s Azam Swati said the right to travel was a fundamental one and no restrictions on Mai’s travel should be placed.

Responding to points of order, Minister of State for Interior Dr Shahzad Waseem said the prime minister had sought a complete report about the case.

He said Mai could meet representatives of Amnesty International and diplomatic representatives in the country and no restrictions had been placed on her meetings. Dr Waseem said a particular lobby was exploiting the issue to humiliate the entire nation.

The minister said it should be a matter of concern for the entire nation that when a little girl was asked by a reporter what she wanted to become when she grew up, she said she wanted to be Mukhtaran Mai.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Enver Baig said 550 people had committed suicide from January to May this year because of financial hardships. He said the government should reconsider its plan of sacking about 5,000 employees from PIA at a time when unemployment had attained extraordinary proportions in the country.

Treasury benches did not respond to the opposition’s claim that nuclear scientist Dr Farooq was being held in illegal detention when the issue was raised in the upper house.

Speaking on a point of order, Senator Farhatullah Babar said Dr Farooq’s detention period ended last month and the government had been keeping him in illegal custody since then.

Senator Babar said the family of Dr Farooq was not allowed to meet him which tantamount to violation of basic human rights.