Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly stages walkout
By Attaul Mohsin Syed - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The entire opposition and the ruling coalition partner, MQM, Thursday walked out of the National Assembly against the Dera Bugti operation despite the government asserted that there was neither an army action nor 50-100 civilian casualties took place in the armed clash between the FC personnel and Bugti men.

The opposition and MQM called for immediate halt to the ongoing operation in Dera Bugti and constitution of a National Assembly’s new committee to find a political solution to the problem as Interior Minister Aftab Sherapo stated that an FC convoy headed by Colonel Furqan retaliated in self-defence when 100-150 Bugti’s men attacked it.

Sherapo, while giving a policy statement after debate on adjournment motions, said that the Bugti tribesmen surrounded the FC convoy and fired around 150 rockets near Sanseela mor near Dera Bugti. Additional FC personnel were called in to rescue the 42-member convoy.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was also present in the House during the debate on Dera Bugti operation. A number of his cabinet members and the ruling parties MNAs who diligently remained in the assembly hall during the time the PM was present, left soon after Shaukat’s departure. Wednesday’s low treasury count had made the government lose its first-ever motion.

Treasury opposes Resolution

The treasury did not agree with the opposition to bring a unanimous resolution to condemn the killings of civilians in Dera Bugti in Wednesday’s armed clash as the MMA and MQM called for such a collective voice from the National Assembly.

The opposition parties claimed that gunship helicopters and heavy weapons were used in Dera Bugti and parts of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s residence were also demolished in the action. “We demand that this action should stop immediately as it will have dangerous results,” said ARD Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim while opening debate on the issue.

He also referred to his telephonic discussion with Akbar Bugti arranged by Senator Amanullah and said: “Akbar Bugti told me that the military operation is going on in Dera Bugti and even his house was demolished partly with use of heavy weapons. He also told me that more than 50 persons have been killed.”

Amin Fahim said the Akbar Bugti’s party is a component of ARD and, therefore, its position would be defended. “Today’s action is not a routine matter and it may have serious complications if the action is not stopped immediately.”

PML [N] MNA Tehmina Daultana announced in the House that the ARD leaders would soon leave for Dera Bugti to hold a meeting there. “The entire ARD will go to Dera Bugti. Why we are repeating the 1971 situation?”

Aggressive speech

MQM parliamentary party leader Farooq Sattar made an aggressive speech in the House saying that the action in Dera Bugti was being carried out without the mandate of the federal cabinet or the parliament. “We condemn the incident and the whole House should follow it.”

Wednesday’s action, he said, has proved that the military operations have been initiated in Balochistan. ‘According to our information, around 100 people have been killed in the action.”

After getting a message from his party MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi sitting beside him, Farooq Sattar announced that the Muttahida would walk out of the House since the action was conducted without mandate of the cabinet or parliament.
MQM’s Federal Minister Safwanullah also joined the walkout as the entire opposition welcomed its stand.

“We hope that the MQM will soon withdraw its support to the government if the military operations continue,” said MMA MNA Liaquat Baloch.

Baloch, while taking part in the debate, demanded the establishment of a new National Assembly committee to visit Dera Bugti to examine the emerging situation.

“All the members of this House should stage a joint walkout to protest the incident and prove that the army’s supremacy will not be accepted.”

The treasury MNA Farooq Amjad Mir said all the members of the parliament should take the Balochistan issue seriously irrespective of their political affiliations. “If this is a military operation, the cabinet should have been taken into confidence.”

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed pointed out that the military action may not have carried out in Dera if the parliamentary committee on Balochistan had submitted its report within February 23 deadline.

BNP MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal claimed that fresh troops were being sent to Dera from Quetta till last reports. “We will not enter into negotiations process on gun-point and the military actions will be resisted.”

Political Solution Urged

He called for finding a political solution to the Balochistan issue instead of heading for the 1971 like scenario. “According to our information, heavy military personnel with modern weapons are continuously searching Dera Bugti.

Hazar Khan Bajrani, Balqees Fatma, Sahibzada Fazl Karim and Qurban Ali Shah also spoke on the Balochistan situation and bitterly criticized the military action.

Aftab Sherpao, in his statement on floor of the House, said the government will welcome if the ARD or other parties want to visit Dera Bugti. “We want to make it clear that the government will ensure safety to the installations.”

The government, he said, believes in dialogues and wants to resolve the issue through the process of negotiations. “The people of Balochistan are happy with the development package amounting to Rs 30 billion.”

Legislation

The National Assembly later unanimously passed a bill to amend the Export Development Fund Act 1999 (The Export Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2005) whereas the government withdrew two bills after it faced a defeat on one of them on Wednesday.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi also introduced the Members of the Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) (Amendment) Bill 2005 to the House, introduced to further amend the Members of the Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act 1974.

He also moved the motions to withdraw the bills presented to the House sometime back by himself and Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat.

These bills consist of the Federal Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2003 (Ordinance No. III of 2003) and the Federal Government Levies (Transfer to Balochistan Province) Bill 2004.

Reports of six Standing Committees regarding various bills were also presented to the House. The National Assembly rescinded its own March 16, 2005 decision of not passing the motion of condonation in delay in presentation of report of the Standing Committee on Cabinet about the Decorations (Amendment) Bill 2005.

Niazi laid before the House the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Ordinance 2005 (Ordinance No. II of 2005).

Rai Mansab Ali Khan, Chairman Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, presented the report of the Committee to the House on Illegal Dispossession Bill 2005.

Ahmed Raza Maneka, Chairman Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, also presented the Committee report on the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2005 introduced to further amend the Federal Benevolent and Group Insurance Act 1969.

Minister of State Engineer Amir Muqam presented the report of the Standing Committee on Defence on behalf of its Chairman Ch. Shujat Hussain to the House on the Pakistan Navy (Amendment) Bill 2005 introduced to further amend the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961.

As all the bills were presented to the House after the due date so the condonation from the House was sought for presentation of each report that was granted by the House with majority.●