News
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Statement against Babar AwanSenate passes condemnation resolution against Sanaullah
* Upper House demands immediate removal of Punjab law minister
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of Parliament, on Wednesday, adopted a unanimous resolution, condemning the statement of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah against former federal law minister Babar Awan and demanding the Punjab government and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) chief to remove him immediately from his post.
Senators, while taking a strong notice of the provincial law minister’s statement against Senator Babar, observed that such statements had claimed the life of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.
The condemnation resolution was moved by Opposition Leader in the Senate, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) parliamentarian.
Sanaullah had said that Babar Awan was liable to be murdered because he was a corrupt lawyer. The resolution demanded the provincial government to remove Sanaullah from the post of Punjab law minister and take disciplinary action against him. Senators were of the view that any statement by any public leader or representative should be given in a responsible manner or society would move towards a wrong direction.
The resolution stated that “if any harm happens to Babar, then all the responsibility would be on the Punjab government”.
During the proceedings, when the House was informed that Sanaullah also happened to be the spokesperson for the PML-N, it questioned whether the Punjab law minister gave the statement in his own capacity or it was from the party. Senators from both treasury and opposition benches taking part in the debate condemned Sanaullah’s statement.
“We are about to reach a point where we would find ‘a state within a state’,” senators said, adding that societies where there was no rule of law always crumbled.
The leader of opposition in the Senate said that it was the time for the nation to awake and realise that “brutalisation” of a society always leads towards destruction. Haideri demanded Sanaullah be removed from his position as he had been involved in spreading anarchy in the country.
Senator Hafiz Abdur Rashid said that issuing a decree against a Muslim that he was liable to death could be defined as “infidelity”. Salahuddin Dogar said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), being a party of martyrs, was not afraid of such statements. Gul Muhammad Lat said that culture of tolerance was a must in politics, and demanded the Punjab government remove Sanaullah from his post.
Senator Haseeb Khan noted that the matter was of very sensitive nature and asked the government to provide proper security to Babar Awan.Federal Law Minister Maula Baksh Chandio held that criticising the provincial government was a political right of Babar Awan.
Zahid Khan said the Punjab law minister’s statement showed that he had a terrorist mindset.
Senator Shabbir Khan said that issuance of decrees was the job of a cleric.
Azam Swati said the PML-N’s leader’s statement had breached the privilege of the Upper House.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk