News
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Ch Nisar, Kaira clash in National Assembly session* Opposition leader flays PPP govt for not accepting Nawaz’s flood commission proposal
* Says information minister issued false statements
* Kaira denies claims
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Saturday clashed in the National Assembly on Saturday.
The two exchanged hot words during a debate on the flood situation, when the opposition leader lashed out against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for rejecting Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) proposal to set up an independent monitoring commission and for, what he claimed, putting restrictions on the media in Sindh.
Referring to the Birmingham incident, Nisar said that when the media highlighted the incident, the government had blocked the transmission of channels through cable operators. “At that time the government spokesman not only denied the incident, but also claimed that the government was not involved in blocking the channels’ transmission. If the government spokesman was speaking the truth, then how will he explain the fact that the transmission was only blocked in Sindh,” he said.
“I also fear that the government does not want to evolve a national consensus on the issue of distribution and monitoring of flood aid,” he said, adding that an independent commission and not the Council of Common Interests (CCI) would be better suited to deal with the issue.
“As obvious from the government’s response to Nawaz Sharif’s proposal for setting up an independent commission, the government is not interested in a national consensus,” he said, adding that the prime minister should have remained committed to what he had announced during his press conference with Nawaz.
He also criticised the federal government for not providing funds to Punjab. “The government likes to make tall claims about provincial autonomy, but not even a single penny has been provided to the Punjab government since the start of the flood disaster. At the same time, Rs 50 million each have been distributed to other provinces. I would say that those who are advising the government to ignore Punjab are not its friends,” he said.
Nisar also said that he had strong reservations over the government’s decision to accept foreign loans.
Responding to the claims, Kaira denied making any false statements. “I have never lied on any issue or tried to conceal the facts. If anyone can prove otherwise, I am ready to resign,” he said. Referring to the issue of blocking transmission of private TV channels, he said the government had nothing to do with the incident. “It was a dispute between cable operators and the management of the channels,” he said.
He also advised the opposition leader not to launch personal attacks against any lawmaker.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk