ISLAMABAD: The Senate may discuss relations between Pakistan and India in the wake of recent incidents of violation of ceasefire by Indian troops and border clashes with Iranian forces when the upper house of parliament will meet after a two-day recess on Monday.

The Senate Secretariat has issued for the private members’ day a 19-point agenda which includes a debate on the situation arising out of the recent floods in the country. But sources in the opposition told Dawn that they would like the house to suspend the normal business to discuss the tensions with India and Iran.

On Friday, the opening day of the session, a couple of senators had suggested that the house hold a debate on the recent incidents of firing by Indian troops along the Line of Control and Working Boundary which resulted in casualties both among civilians and security personnel.

Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq has said the issue came under discussion at meeting of the Business Advisory Committee and that the government side had no objections if the house wanted to hold a debate on the matter.

The Iranian border guards allegedly stormed into Pakistani territory on Saturday and killed a security man and also fired some mortar shells.

Pakistan has already summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Office to lodge a protest over the issue.

The border incident has apparently provided an opportunity to opposition parties to target the government’s foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the heavy agenda issued for the Monday session includes presentation of the reports of three standing committees, introduction of a private member bill and debates on five motions and five resolutions.

The motion seeking debate on “the situation arising out of recent floods in the country and the steps taken by the government to cope with the same” has been moved by an independent member from the treasury benches, Mohsin Khan Leghari.

An important resolution recommended that “the government should take effective steps to control corruption in the country”.

A resolution tabled by MQM’s Tahir Mashhadi and stating that “the government should take immediate steps to establish universities in each district of the country” is also on the agenda.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014