ISLAMABAD: An opposition resolution against a disqualified person heading a political party was passed by the Senate of Pakistan on Wednesday.
The resolution, presented by opposition leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, stated that a person who was declared ineligible for becoming a member of parliament or had been disqualified could not lead any political party.
Last month, the Senate defeated an amendment by the opposition to the Election Bill 2017 with a single vote margin, paving way for Nawaz Sharif to return as the president of PML-N after he was disqualified by the Supreme Court from becoming a member of parliament.
Aitzaz Ahsan also demanded that a committee should be formed to investigate the alleged Intelligence Bureau (IB) list of lawmakers with links to terrorist organisations. “I do not accept that the letter is fake,” he said, adding that the issue required investigation since two senators had also been named in the list.
The IB and the government have repeatedly denied the existence of any such list, with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi clarifying on the floor of the National Assembly that the list was “fake”.
In the Senate, 52 people voted in favour of the resolution while 28 opposed it. While expressing reservation, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid said nothing usual was happening in the country. He added that the resolution was passed with mala fide intentions; hence should not be deliberated upon.
He said that the resolution must not be passed by the Senate as opposition was only trying for point-score on a law that had already been passed by both the Houses of parliament.
Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq said that both the Houses of parliament had already passed a law to the effect and the resolution would not make any difference. Senator Saud Majeed urged the House to avoid making a law, which it had passed, controversial. No resolution against settled issues should be passed, he added.
Meanwhile, Minister for Law Zahid Hamid told the House that the list containing the names of 37 parliamentarians having alleged links with banned outfits, which was telecast by a news channel, was fake and fabricated. The minister said his name was also included in the list. The Intelligence Bureau had already issued its denial. The alleged letter of Prime Minister’s House directing to make the list was also fake and incorrect, he added. He said the government was not victimising the anchorperson who had aired the list. The prime minister had already clarified the issue in the National Assembly and lawmakers were satisfied with his statement.
Earlier, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan raised the issue saying that the anchorperson was allegedly being victimised on making public the alleged lB list. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) was also threatening the anchorperson, he alleged.
The senators belonging to the PPP made hue and cry when PML-N Senator Mushahidullah in his speech claimed that Uzair Baloch told the court that he collected extortion for former president Asif Ali Zardari. He asked the PPP to stop political point-scoring by presenting a motion that a disqualified person could not lead a political party.
Published in Daily Times, October 12th 2017.
