DACCA: The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Mr Mohammad Quasem Malik, today [Jan 30] emphasised that the country’s Armed Forces were looking after the interests of every citizen...

He wanted to move a privilege motion on the situation created by the imposition of curfew and other orders issued on the Forces on duty. He said he was living in personal danger and could not move freely. Under the circumstances, he could not be expected to function properly as a member of the National Assembly. Disallowing the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Mr A.T.M. Mateen, who was in the Chair, said the Jawans were giving “real protection” to everybody. The Deputy Speaker said “by the Grace of God, the situation was returning to normal”. — Correspondent

[Agency report adds,] The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Mr Quasem Malik, declared that the suggestion for holding election of the President on the basis of adult franchise was not feasible. Opposing leave to the Bill, sought to be moved by Mr A.B.M. Nurul Islam (Opp) on the first non-official day of the current session, he said that even in the developed countries, like the United States, there was an electoral college for the election of the President.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2019