PPP keeps mum in PA: PML-Q protests Davis`s release
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) protested in the Punjab Assembly against the release of US official Raymond Davis, blaming the provincial government for conniving in his release, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) remained silent on the issue.
The PML-Q alleged that Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan visited the Kot Lakhpat Jail only “to guarantee the deal between heirs of Faizan and Fahim and the US authorities”.
PML-Q and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal members also staged a walkout in protest at the release.
The house proceedings started at 11:05am, about an hour and five minutes late than its schedule time. The house transacted business smoothly as PPP MPAs had ended their protest against the Q League turncoats on the directions of party co-chairperson Asif Zardari.
Soon after the recitation of the Holy Quran and Na’at, opposition leader Raja Riaz took the floor on a point of order and expressed his wishes and prayers for the early recovery of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif who had suffered some cardiac problem in London. Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal ignored his repeated requests for calling for the official cleric to offer prayers for the early recovery of Mr Sharif.
PML-Q’s Majida Zaidi raised the issue of the release of US official Raymond Davis and alleged that the PML-N government had ensured his safe exit. She alleged the law minister had visited the jail before the release of Raymond.
Rana Sana said he would resign if it was established that he had visited the jail on Wednesday.
Chief Minister’s Senior Adviser Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa defended the government by urging the MPAs “not to make fun of Shariat as the fate of Raymond was decided under Sharia laws and after a fair court trial”.
The house observed a one-minute silence to show solidarity with the Japanese suffering deaths and destruction following a worst earthquake and tsunami. The call for observing silence was made by PML-Q’s breakaway faction’s (Unification Bloc’s) Sheikh Alauddin.
SERAIKI SOOBA: PPP Parliamentary Leader Zulfikar Gondal supported the call for carving out a Seraiki province out of Punjab and demanded that the PML-N follow the suit.
He said his party would include the demand for the new federating unit in its manifesto for next election as promised by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
YOUNG DOCTORS: Responding to a PPP’s Akhtar Malik point of order regarding the ongoing strike of young doctors, Rana Sana said besides a four member house committee a special committee headed by Mr Khosa was negotiating with the representatives of doctors.
He said the doctors had been assured of meeting their demand of raising their salaries but the step could not be taken in one ago as it would put a Rs36 billion extra burden on the provincial kitty.
Opposition leader Raja Riaz alleged that Health Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad was involved in embezzlement worth billions of rupees. He said as the bureaucrat was a blue-eyed man of the chief minister no action was being taken against his wrongdoings. He boycotted the house proceedings to register his protest.
The law minister said the PML-N could not afford humiliation like the PPP had done in case of dialogue with the MQM for “political resuscitation” again and again. He said the party wanted to end the corruption and would definitely achieve the goal.The chair referred PPP MPA Azma Bukhari’s privilege motion against Rana Sana to the privileges committee. In her motion she has objected to the law ministerÂ’s remarks that “all rotten eggs have assembled on the opposition benches”.On an adjournment motion by Sheikh Alauddin, the chair formed a five-member committee to probe Rs500 million misappropriations in the Forensic Science Agency.
BILLS: Six amendment bills were moved by the law minister, which were referred to the standing committees.
These included the Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011, the Hindu Disposal of Property (Amendment) Bill 2011, the Provincial Insolvency (Amendment) Bill, the Charitable and Religious Trusts (Amendment) Bill, the Hindu Inheritance (Removal of Disabilities) (Amendment) Bill and the Hindu Law of Inheritance (Second Amendment) Bill 2011.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/18/2011
” 
” 
” 
” 
