Lawmakers agree to hold joint protest: Blasphemous cartoons
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: Treasury and opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly on Monday agreed to hold joint protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons by various European newspapers, triggering resentment among the Muslims around the world.
The opposition criticised the government for what it called harassment of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman MNA Mehmud Khan Achakzai by intelligence agencies. It also opposed the introduction of an amendment to the contempt of court law.
The house was told that 90 per centof railways’ signals, 56 per cent tracks and its entire system had become outdated but the government was unable to upgrade it because of shortage of funds.
Moved by PPP Parliamentarians’ Aitzaz Ahsan, the proposal of holding a ‘silent’ march by parliamentarians both from the National Assembly and Senate starting from the Parliament House up to the diplomatic enclave was accepted by all parliamentary groups in the lower house.
Mr Ahsan, in response to the treasury benches’ reaction, suggested that the leader of the house, the prime minister, should lead such a march to demonstrate unity of the faithfuls in the issue of the sanctity of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain said that the proposed march would “certainly take place” and suggested a meeting between representatives of the National Assembly and Senate — three from each party including one each from smaller parties — to agree on a timetable.
Earlier, Mr Ahsan described the ongoing resentment against the publication of the cartoons as a serious issue and said it could not be resolved merely by passing resolutions.
On behalf of his party, he invited all parties represented in parliament to take out a protest procession between noon and 12.30 pm and stage a sit-in near the diplomatic enclave for at least an hour.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the MMA said that it was unfortunate that the parliament was not given its due status and reverence at home as a result of which its decisions and resolutions were not given importance abroad.
He said a national consultation meeting had been recently convened by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal which decided to launch a country-wide protest campaign. He called upon all parties, including the PPP Parliamentarians, to join the alliance’s protest.
PML-N’s Begum Ishrat Ashraf, PONM’s Abdul Rauf Mengal, Minister for Law Wasi Zafar endorsed the proposal for the march and announced their parties’ participation.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar said that resolutions passed by both houses of parliament against the publication of the blasphemous material had been transmitted to diplomats of the countries concerned and efforts were under way to initiate a similar move from the OIC as well.
PPP Parliamentarians’ Nabeel Gabol accused the Sindh administration of making attempts at horse-trading immediately after the announcement of Senate elections, and a serious attempt was made in Lyari, he alleged, to abduct an MPA of his party while others were being contacted to change their loyalty.
Babar Khan Ghauri, minister for shipping, refuted the allegation and challenged said: “If anyone had tried …. you would not have been sitting as a member of this house”.
Baloch nationalist legislator Abdur Rauf Mengal accused intelligence agencies of violating the sanctity of ‘chadar and chardeevari’ in his province and demanded that a privilege motion be moved against the administration for abduction and attempted abduction of relatives of Mehmud Khan Achakzai who had to leave for London under duress.
Raja Parvaiz Ashraf of PPP Parliamentarians supported Mr Mengal and termed the issues most serious.
Earlier, responding to a call-attention notice, Minister of State for Railways Ishaq Khakwani admitted that there were flaws and shortcomings in the Railways, which were causing frequent accidents.
He said that the out-dated signals were being replaced with a modern system under which no train driver would be able to violate signals.
He pledged to present the reports of inquiries into recent train accidents in the house next week.
The minister said that proceeds of the railways’ assets sold so far were insufficient to meet the purchase needs of the system.
Later, the opposition spoke against the introduction of an amendment to the contempt of court law which seeks enhancement of the contemner’s punishment.
Farid Paracha of the MMA said bringing in a new law through ordinance was unnecessary because the original contempt of court law had been passed after a thorough debate. Moreover, no such law existed in Europe, he said.
He said if a judge worked in accordance with the constitution, he would automatically wield respect of clients and there would be no need to invoke the contempt laws.
Hafiz Hussain Ahmed also criticised the proposed amendment and opposed the law of necessity, which gave undue powers to dictators with the support of judiciary.
