Islamabad:
Parliament’s top house witnessed the rebellion on Friday when opposition legislators accused the government of politicizing this year’s civilian awards by allegedly favoring ministers and state box benches while ignoring deserved figures.
The Senate Session, President of Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani, turned heated after he announced that several cabinet members and senators had been awarded national honors on August 14. Opposition members demanded disclosure of the criteria used for selection.
Among the awarded were Ishaq Dar, Mohsin Naqvi, Musadik Malik, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Faisal Sabzwari, Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Bushra Anjum, Ahsan Iqbal and Ahad Cheema. Irfan Siddiqui and Sarmad Ali will receive their awards on March 23 next year.
Senator Falak Naz Chitrali asked, “What war did Atta Tarar fought?” While Senator Humayun Mohmand sarcastically noted that “The designer of the war, Nawaz Sharif, has not been awarded.” Ptis Senator Faisal Javed said party’s social media activists had received Indian propaganda “Day and Night,” but was ignored and accused the government of “destroying the holiness” of the honor.
Defender awards said Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar that martyrs and heroes from Marka-E-Haq had been recognized, including those who lost their homes. He said some senators had “fought on diplomatic fronts abroad” and thanked PTI’s social media workers for their online role in the campaign.
The atmosphere was tense when Senator Faisal Javed raised the omission of Quaid-in-Zam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s image from official independence day ads and showed the founder’s image on the Senate floor. “Explain, otherwise we won’t let this house run,” he warned. Tarar expressed ignorance of the case, called the omission “hurt” and promised an investigation. The house later unanimously adopted a decision that praises the basic fathers, the framework of the Constitution and the armed forces.
Previously, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada criticized that although prisoners often receive a referee on August 14, PTI leaders were instead handed over “10-year prison terms such as BATA sales rates.”
Separately expressed Senator Kamran Murtaza concern about the suspension of the mobile Internet across 36 districts in Balochistan and alleged closure of rail, road and airlink warned of damage to Pakistan’s image.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry clarified that only mobile Internet services had been suspended from 6 to 31 August due to “credible security threats” according to Pakistan Telecommunication (reorganization), 1996. He said telephone lines, airline operations and road and rail.
“These measures are taken in specific areas facing threats, not across non -related regions,” he said, quoting previous terrorist attacks in the province, including at Jaffar Express and Army Public School in Khuzdar.
On concern about prepaid Internet packages, Dr. Chaudhry to take up the matter with that ministry and ensure that unused credit during the suspension period would be led to the next month.
The session was postponed until Monday night.
