ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday, reiterated his demand for the issuance of production orders of two members of the National Assembly (NA) Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir.
Opposition parties have been demanding to the speaker to issue production orders of these legislators to participate in the ongoing session of the Lower House of Parliament
Speaking on the floor of NA Bilawal said, “Production orders for Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir should be issued so that the House can be completed. It does not matter if you are the government or the opposition, we are all members of the Parliament’’. He asked the speaker of NA and members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaff (PTI) play their role in this regard.
In response, NA Speaker Asad Qaiser replied, ‘’we are looking at the legal points, as soon as we have a decision we will inform (you)’’.
The two legislators from former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were arrested after a protest demonstration turned violent in Waziristan a few weeks back.
Both belong to the newly formed Pashtoon Tahafuz Movement (PTM)-a group formed against alleged violation of rights of Pashtoons. FATA has now merged into KPK province.
The PPP chairman said by not issuing their production orders, a message is being given that this House is not free.
‘’We have even written to the human rights committee for the issuance of production orders. I don’t know whom the government is consulting with for the production order,” he added.
Speaking outside the Parliament House Bilawal said, production orders of some members of the Parliament have still not been issued. It is the right of every member to attend the budget session, he asserted.
PPP chairman said his party is attending the budget session under protest. What message the government was sending to the people of FATA? he questioned.
‘’Every child stood against terrorism, peoples businesses were destroyed and lives were lost. Today these people can’t take part in the budget,” Bilawal lamented.
Those who come through the back door are always worried, he said alluding to the incumbent PTI led government.
Bilawal claimed that Akhtar Mengal who head Balochistan National Party- Mengal (BNP-M) has serious reservations against the government. If they were not resolved, he will not vote on the budget.
BNP-M a Baloch nationalist party is part of the ruling coalition. Mengal had a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan later in the day.
Mengal was invited to the multi-party moot of opposition groups organized by Jamiat Ulema e Islam. He did not attend the huddle.
PPP chairman announced to reject the budget calling it anti-people. it will oppose the budget.
‘’This budget is being passed through cheating. Even Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Mushraff did not do this,” Bilawal added.
NA is in session debating the federal budget for 2019-20. It is likely to hold a vote on the next year’s budget on Friday. Ruling PTI has a thin majority in the lower House of Parliament that passes the budget. PTI is taking its allies on board to secure their support in smooth passing of the budget. (With additional input from INP)
