Stormy NA sitting likely today

Published August 28, 2006

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: The government is expecting a stormy National Assembly sitting on Monday on account of the killing of former Balochistan chief minister and chief of Bugti tribe Nawab Muhammad Akbar Khan Bugti in a military operation in Kohlu.

There is also a possibility that when the NA session resumes after a two-day recess, the government side proposes suspension of proceedings to pay respect to late Bugti in a bid to gain more time to let sentiments cool down.

The ARD, the MMA and other components of the combined opposition have decided to move adjournment motions to debate the issue. Nationalist parties, particularly those from Balochistan, will also make their presence felt.

There are two opinions regarding the Monday’s sitting of the NA. Chairman of PPP Parliamentarians and ARD Makhdoom Amin Fahim is ofthe opinion that if majority likes to uphold parliamentary traditions, the sitting can be suspended after offering fateha for the departed soul but if it decides otherwise it may go on with the usual business.

MMA deputy parliamentary leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, however, says that since Nawab Bugti was not a member of the house, suspension of the sitting may not occur and the house may confine itself to debates on the circumstances leading to his death and condemnation of the military operation.

Sources say that it depends on the mood and atmosphere of the house whether it continues or to suspends its proceedings.

Meanwhile, PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain again contacted Hafiz Hussain Ahmed on Sunday to inform him about possibility of a meeting of the unofficial committee as agreed between the two to discuss protection of women rights.

Mr Ahmed told Dawn that he, being the chairman of MMA’s committee, had invited members of the religious alliance to meet at parliament lodges at 11am to discuss the proposed draft bill and to decide as to what extent MMA could show flexibility.