News
Friday, October 14, 2011
NA turns into battlefield* MQM, PML-N MNAs use abusive language, level serious allegations against each other after Nisar’s adverse remarks against MQM
* Proceedings remain suspended for a while
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) threat to physically block a piece of legislation degenerated into a physical brawl between its members and the MQM on Thursday when lawmakers from both the parties indulged in levelling allegations and abusive language against each other triggered by Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s threatening remarks against MQM.
The severe rumpus witnessed by the House kept proceedings of the House suspended for some time with senior members of the PPP trying to cool down both the sides, whose back-benchers were in the forefront accusing and rushing towards each other by rolling up their sleeves.
Lawmakers from both the PML-N and MQM resorted to all kind of bad language they could employ against each other before sanity prevailed in the House due to the efforts of seasoned parliamentarians.
Proceedings of the House went smoothly until Opposition Leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan took the floor.
His criticism of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad Bill 2007, which was later held by the government to pass it despite an earlier commitment to take opposition on board led to the blasting of the MQM, which he dubbed as a fascist organisation with a militant wing that had established no go areas in its power base.
Nisar, perturbed over the MQM’s stance over Ayesha Ahad Malik’s issue involving the PML-N leadership, declared that he would not allow hooliganism by MQM.
“They should know their limits while carrying out personal attacks against others and if any such thing happens then we will be free to respond in the same fashion,” Nisar threatened.
Referring to Dr Zulfiqar Mirza’s allegations on MQM’s leadership, Nisar said that these were of a very serious nature and needed to be brought before parliament as these were directly concerned with the national security.
“Mirza should be summoned in the National Assembly to appraise this House about the proofs he possesses about threat to the national security,” Nisar demanded and felt that MQM should be ashamed of using derogatory language against Mirza despite the fact that he was husband of the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza, who exhibited great patience while her husband was being criticised in the House.
Nisar also rebuked the MQM for alleging that PML-N was planning to bring no-confidence move against the government and categorically stated that the party had not even considered this option so far. He snubbed the MQM by declaring that if the party ever considered any such move, they would not be asked for help. Nisar termed MQM’s joining and quitting the government habit a worst example in the political history of the country.
About DHA Islamabad Bill that he threatened to block physically if the government tried to pass it, Nisar termed it an attempt to stamp the wrongdoing of a land grabber and vowed to move the court if the government went for it. He said that there were serious constitutional violations in the bill and questioned as to how a housing authority could be built on a land owned by the Punjab government.
Though MQM’s Asif Hasnain tried to respond to the fierce criticism by Nisar when he took the floor but his speech was not well focused and lacked the vigour.
He accused the opposition leader of hatching a conspiracy against the government and demanded probe into it.
He blamed the PML-N for disturbing decorum of the House after it failed to mobilise masses outside parliament against the government. PML-Q’s Raza Hayat Hiraj deplored unruly scenes in the House and called for constituting a committee to look into Mirza’s allegations against MQM. Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah describing scuffle between the PML-N and MQM in the House as unfortunate said, “The House is our identity and responsibility rests on each of us to uphold its sanctity and dignity.”
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk