ISLAMABAD: Raising a question mark over the government’s silence on the statement of MQM chief Altaf Hussain, opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday expressed the apprehension that the ruling party would try to sabotage the National Assembly’s session requisitioned by the PML-N.
“We have reports that the government will raise the question of quorum in the National Assembly whenever it gets an opportunity,” Chaudhry Nisar said, while addressing a press conference here at the Punjab House.
He said the silence of the government on Altaf Hussain’s statement was meaningful andshowed its mindset. The PML-N leader said none of the political parties had supported the unnecessary and uncalled-for statement from the “foreigner leader” of the MQM, which is a Pakistan-based party.
“My party is ready to withdraw the privilege motion against Altaf Hussain if he withdraws his statement. I feel it will be the best way to resolve the issue,” he said. “If Altaf Hussain does not withdraw the statement and his party leaders continue slamming the PML-N leadership, the MQM leader would be exposed during the National Assembly’s session on September 2.”
Chaudhry Nisar said the privilege motion submitted by the MQM against Nawaz Sharif for leaving the country 10 years ago was not valid because the question of privilege of a member or of the House could be raised only on a recent incident. “As to why the MQM did not raise this question, when they were in the last assembly?” he asked.
He said the PML-N had requisitioned the National Assembly’s session on a one-point agenda i.e. the flood situation in the country, but “we will now take up the statement of Altaf Hussain first, as it is a question of the constitutional image of the country and the image of the armed forces.”
“If the MQM leader is so worried about corrupt politicians, he should first part ways with the government and support the opposition’s stance on the accountability bill, which is pending in the House standing committee for the last year.”
Nisar said as to why Altaf Hussain did not talk about corrupt politicians when his party members were sitting with the beneficiaries of the NAB in the federal cabinet during the Musharraf tenure.
He said he would once again bring on record the words used by Pervez Musharraf against Altaf Hussain when he was the Army chief, not in the government, during a meeting with him (Nisar) and Shahbaz Sharif.
The PML-N leader said the MQM would curse every Army general like Asif Nawaz and Jahangir Karamat, who exposed the party leadership and sat with Perez Musharraf who provided it a cover. “Altaf Hussain ignored corruption when he was in the Musharraf government and is giving such statements when there is a democratic government in the country,” he said, saying Altaf had no right to talk about national politics.
“The MQM leader should tell the nation from where he got millions of pounds to purchase his house and party office in London. There are no two opinions about the fact that the MQM runs a militant wing and believes in politics of Bhatta,” the PML-N leader added.
He said he had to address this press conference after the criticism on the top PML-N leadership by MQM leaders. To a question, the PML-N leader said the military spokesman should also have responded to the irresponsible statement of Altaf Hussain as it was an attempt to create a rift in the Army and in the national unity.
About his meetings with the Army chief, he said he stopped meeting General Kayani after feeling that the practice was not giving a good impression. Nisar said the government should take parliament into confidence on the flood situation, the amount of foreign assistance and relief and rehabilitation work. He regretted the federal government had provided not even a single penny to the Punjab government as part of relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.
“We have reports that the government will raise the question of quorum in the National Assembly whenever it gets an opportunity,” Chaudhry Nisar said, while addressing a press conference here at the Punjab House.
He said the silence of the government on Altaf Hussain’s statement was meaningful andshowed its mindset. The PML-N leader said none of the political parties had supported the unnecessary and uncalled-for statement from the “foreigner leader” of the MQM, which is a Pakistan-based party.
“My party is ready to withdraw the privilege motion against Altaf Hussain if he withdraws his statement. I feel it will be the best way to resolve the issue,” he said. “If Altaf Hussain does not withdraw the statement and his party leaders continue slamming the PML-N leadership, the MQM leader would be exposed during the National Assembly’s session on September 2.”
Chaudhry Nisar said the privilege motion submitted by the MQM against Nawaz Sharif for leaving the country 10 years ago was not valid because the question of privilege of a member or of the House could be raised only on a recent incident. “As to why the MQM did not raise this question, when they were in the last assembly?” he asked.
He said the PML-N had requisitioned the National Assembly’s session on a one-point agenda i.e. the flood situation in the country, but “we will now take up the statement of Altaf Hussain first, as it is a question of the constitutional image of the country and the image of the armed forces.”
“If the MQM leader is so worried about corrupt politicians, he should first part ways with the government and support the opposition’s stance on the accountability bill, which is pending in the House standing committee for the last year.”
Nisar said as to why Altaf Hussain did not talk about corrupt politicians when his party members were sitting with the beneficiaries of the NAB in the federal cabinet during the Musharraf tenure.
He said he would once again bring on record the words used by Pervez Musharraf against Altaf Hussain when he was the Army chief, not in the government, during a meeting with him (Nisar) and Shahbaz Sharif.
The PML-N leader said the MQM would curse every Army general like Asif Nawaz and Jahangir Karamat, who exposed the party leadership and sat with Perez Musharraf who provided it a cover. “Altaf Hussain ignored corruption when he was in the Musharraf government and is giving such statements when there is a democratic government in the country,” he said, saying Altaf had no right to talk about national politics.
“The MQM leader should tell the nation from where he got millions of pounds to purchase his house and party office in London. There are no two opinions about the fact that the MQM runs a militant wing and believes in politics of Bhatta,” the PML-N leader added.
He said he had to address this press conference after the criticism on the top PML-N leadership by MQM leaders. To a question, the PML-N leader said the military spokesman should also have responded to the irresponsible statement of Altaf Hussain as it was an attempt to create a rift in the Army and in the national unity.
About his meetings with the Army chief, he said he stopped meeting General Kayani after feeling that the practice was not giving a good impression. Nisar said the government should take parliament into confidence on the flood situation, the amount of foreign assistance and relief and rehabilitation work. He regretted the federal government had provided not even a single penny to the Punjab government as part of relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.
No comments:
Post a Comment