ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Opposition members on Monday staged a token walkout in Senate to protest against the government's decision of not allowing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif to come to Pakistan to attend the burial of their father Mian Mohammad Sharif.
Speaking on a point of order, Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) criticized the government for making the death of Mian Mohammad Sharif a "political issue".
The MMA senator said that a couple of days ago, ruling party Senator Mushahid Hussain had talked about taking some political confidence-building measures concerning the opposition, but the government did not allow PML-N chief and his brother to come to Pakistan with other family members for the burial of their father.
"We feel ashamed of it," the senator said.
Parliamentary leader of the People's Party Parliamentarians in Senate Raza Rabbani, while speaking on the occasion, termed the government's decision a part of the "political victimization" of the opposition parties.
He also condemned the government for not allowing funeral prayers of Mian Sharif at Data Darbar in Lahore.
Responding to the points of order, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said the government had not politicized the death of Mian Mohammad Sharif as it wanted to facilitate the Sharif family on humanitarian grounds.
He accused the Sharif family of twisting the matter to gain political advantage of the situation. He said immediately after the death of Mian Sharif, the Pakistani counsel general in Jeddah contacted Nawaz Sharif, but the person who attended the call told him that Mr Sharif was sleeping. Later, he said, the counsel general talked to Shahbaz Sharif, who said the family had not finalized its programme.
Later, he said, the Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia visited the residence of Nawaz Sharif to inquire about their programme. In the evening, the minister said, a person, namely Mehfooz, told the embassy about the flight on which they wanted to take the body to Pakistan.
The minister told Senate that former military secretary of Nawaz Sharif, personal physician of Mian Sharif Dr Adnan and Mehfooz accompanied the body of Mian Sharif.
Mr Sherpao said it was not correct that the government did not allow the funeral prayers at Data Darbar.
Meanwhile, responding to a point of order of MMA senator Prof Khurshid, the interior minister told Senate that six peoplehad been arrested for breaking into the house of former minister Dr Mahmood Ghazi in Islamabad.
An interesting situation was created in the upper house when the interior minister clarified that dacoity had not been committed at Dr Ghazi's house, but at the house of his brother who lived in the upper portion.
This statement caused a huge laughter in the house. Even then, the minister said there were a number of such houses in Islamabad where two families were living in separate portions. He said Dr Ghazi was sleeping when dacoits were looting his brother's family in the upper portion of the house.
The minister said the family had claimed that the dacoits looted Rs20,000, $600, Saudi Riyals 500, and a watch and a mobile telephone worth Rs100,000 at gunpoint.
He further said those involved in looting PTI Chief Imran Khan had also been arrested. He said eight people had been arrested in this connection, but the main accused was still at large.
Responding to a point of order of MMA Senator Rehmatullah Kakar regarding blockade of roads during the VVIP movements, the minister said these steps had been taken after attacks on President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He, however, said steps would be taken to reduce the difficulties of common people in this regard.