PML-N continues protest in parliament

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the second largest party in Parliament staged walked out from National Assembly and Senate, vowing to continue protest until Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani resigned from his post.

The opposition boycotted the debate on President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the both houses of the parliament. Senator Zafar Ali Shah while speaking to the media observed, “We will not participate in the proceedings till Gilani’s resignation”.

The PML-N leader asked the Senate chairman to follow the constitution and not start a debate on the president’s address to the parliament till the matter of the Prime Minister’s conviction was resolved.

Earlier, Federal Law Minister Faooq H Naek submitted the motion saying, “This House (Senate) expresses its deep gratitude to the President for this address to both Houses assembled together on March 17”.

The Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) decided to continue the lawmaking process, as the PML-N staged a walked-out for an indefinite time period. Senator Raza Rabbani asked their colleges to participate in the debate, terming it a constitution matter.

Rabbani commented, “The PML-N should follow the constitution and express their views on the president’s speech”.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak of Awami National Party (ANP) while taking part in the debate praised the services of President Asif Ali Zardari, calling him a man who loves democracy.

However, the PML-N continued its protest throughout the session. PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that no debate could take place in the presence of a convicted prime minister and his cabinet.

In the meantime, the PML-N staged protest demonstration against Gilani, compelling Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi to indefinitely postpone the National Assembly session.

Due to the PML-N’s protest and chats of ‘Go Gilani Go’, issues of the day’s agenda, including the party’s own resolution regarding formation of new provinces, could not be discussed.

However, the treasury benches passed the National Human Rights Commission Bill 2012 in the 30-minute session.

Earlier on Thursday, amid noisy protests from the PML-N, the remainder majorities of both houses of parliament placed their “complete confidence” in Prime Minister Gilani. The National Assembly also demanded a new province of south Punjab.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=21446

Posted by Faisal Farooq on May 4 2012. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.