ISLAMABAD – Opposition senators expressed their rejection of Kerry-Lugar Bill seeing it as a means of
targeting PakistanÂ’s nuclear weapons. Raja Zafarul Haq declared that the monitoring of the Pakistan Army and
courts will pose a serious threat to national integrity. He also termed the US diplomats statements on drone
attacks on Quetta threatening.
Despite the serious issues raised, the Senate of Pakistan sounded more like an Eid Milan party rather than the
first day of the session, convened after 3 months, with ministers chatting at the back rather than showing an
interest in the proceedings.
Farooq Naek, in the Chair, remained bewildered and one saw constant interruptions by the Chair pleading to
follow the agreed agenda set out by the House Business Advisory Committee.
The situation dramatically changed the moment Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani left the House. Till then
the House had remained orderly and transacted some business on the agenda. But situation turned amusing
after he left with several important ministers, Rehman Malik, Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo and Mehreen Anwar
Raja indulging in meeting their friends and acquaintances and moving around. This continued unabated inspite
of oft-repeated reminders to them by the Chairman.
Prior to adjournment amid these scenes, the House could dispose off a calling attention notice on PIA
privatisation plan and many points of order.
PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani sought to discuss the issue of PIA privatisation plan, which he believed was
aimed at denying trade union activities in the national flag carrier by outsourcing its services.
He urged the government to abandon its policy of privatisation of the national institutions that was doomed to fail
like it had happened in other countries of the world. Leader of Opposition, Waseem Sajjad also sought to
discuss purchase of potable water as well as meat, by PIA at exacerbated prices. While Tariq Azeem, Haroon
Akhtar, Haji Adeel Lt.gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi also sought to discuss accumulated losses in the PIA.
Responding to the calling attention notice, Defence Minister Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar rejected that PIA was being
privatised and requested the members to wait until the government puts up PIAÂ’s business plan in the House for
discussion.
This was followed by points of order many of which related to US threat to launch drone strikes on Quetta and
Kerry-Lugar Bill passed by the US Congress with such strings that many members of the House believed were
against sovereignty of the country.
By and large all the members of the House from Balochistan were ostensibly perturbed on the US threat to
attack and eliminate leader of Afghan Taliban Mullah Omer and his key associates allegedly living in Quetta and
sought to discuss this issue by sidelining other agenda items.
Hasil Bizenjo while quoting a recent report published by the New York Times that US plans to launch drone
strikes on Quetta that has become main concentration place for Mullah Omer and his associates.
He was of the view that US envoy to Pakistan Anne W Patterson was currently visiting her country to finalise the
US drone attacks plan. He warned Quetta was not Swat or Tora Bora. It would be a much bigger tragedy than
Swat, he said, adding the US attack on Quetta would lead to such a reaction that the incumbent PPP-led
government would not be able to tackle.
Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Mrs. Kulsoom, Mian Raza Rabbani,Maulana
Ghafoor Haidri,Ismail Buledi and Raja Zafar ul Haq also sought to discuss the US threat through points of order.
The issue of Kerry-Lugar Bill was more amusing for the gallery visitors as several members of the House were
dejected after Prime MinisterÂ’s statement saying Pakistan would give its reaction once US President signs the
said bill.
“What purpose it would serve once the bill is approved”, Raja Zafarul Haq asked from the Chairman. Raja Zafar
ul Haq, Waseem Sajjad, Ishaq Dar and others who raised their points of order seeking to discuss the
Kerry-Lugar Bill urged the government to reject it as it was against independence and sovereignty of Pakistan.
Leader of the House, Syed Nayar Hussain Bukhari while responding to points of order about Kerry-Lugar Bill
said it was such an issue needs decision of the entire nation. “It is US legislation, not of Pakistan”, he said
requesting all the members to study the Bill thoroughly before the House takes it up for debate.
Chairman Senate Farooq Naek in his remarks also expressed his intentions to study the bill.
More ironical were the points of order raised by Maulana Khalid Soomro and Dr. Safdar Abbasi seeking to
discuss amount of corruption being done by the authorities executing special development plan for district
Larkana launched on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari. Chairman while taking note of the matter
adjourned the House to meet again on Monday afternoon.