Hamza denies: PML-Q, PPP slam Shahbaz in NA | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Hamza denies: PML-Q, PPP slam Shahbaz in NA

ISLAMABAD: As the parliamentarians in the National Assembly belonging to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the PML-Q criticized the Punjab chief minister for saying that the Taliban should not target the province, Hamza Shahbaz came to the rescue of his father, reminding the members that the PML-N had also worked for national interests and not only for Punjab.

Amir Muqaam of the PML-Q and Nabil Gabol and Akhunzada Chattan from the PPP condemned the statement of Shahbaz Sharif reported in a section of the press and demanded an apology from him. According to them, the statement means that the Taliban should not come to Punjab and they should remain in NWFP.

“Our actions have also reflected that the PML-N always worked in national interest and it never talked about a single province only,” said Hamza Shahbaz while speaking on a point of order. Hamza, however, said that he had taken the floor as representative of his party in the House.

He particularly mentioned that it was the PML-N government in Punjab which sacrificed for the sake of announcement of the NFC award after 13 years. Hamza said that the struggle of the PML-N for the independence of the judiciary was also meant for national interests and it was for the freedom and rights of 170 million people of the country.

He regretted that the government has not taken any practical steps to repeal the 17th Amendment which still exists in the Constitution as a legacy of the dictator like Pervez Musharraf who succumbed to pressure of the United States on a telephone call. “It was Nawaz Sharif who did not care for any phone calls from President Clinton and went ahead with nuclear tests in 1998,” he recalled.

He said that the same dictator’s policies are resulting in everyday bomb blasts in Lahore, Swat and other parts of the country. He also recalled that the Punjab government extended all out help to IDPs from the Malakand division in their difficult time providing health cover and other best possible facilities.

Amir Muqaam raised the issue of Shahbaz Sharif’s statement, saying that the top leader of a national political party should not use such irresponsible words which could create hatred among people of rest of the country against a big province.

Akhunzada Chattan said that the Punjab chief minister should apologize to people of the country for issuing such statement.Regarding 17th Amendment, Minister for Law and Justice Babar Awan said the constitutional reforms committee has done most of its job. He said the committee is meeting regularly to finish its task at the earliest.

To another point of order from Sheikh Waqas Akram, the minister said he would seek a report from chief commissioner Islamabad about alleged wrongdoings in National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society.

Waqas Akram pointed out irregularities in the housing society under the patronage of administrator of the society who is also a deputy secretary in the government. He said the administrator had got extension twice despite complaints against him.

Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar while responding to a calling attention notice, said the government was very serious in tackling the problem of rising inflation. She acknowledged that inflation has risen to 13% but pointed out that its rate was less last month as compared to January this year.

She said salaries of the armed forces personnel have been doubled and those of the government employees would be increased in the light of the report of the Pay and Pension Commission, likely to be presented to the government this month. The call attention notice was moved by Abdul Rashid Godil and others.
Source: The News
Date:3/16/2010