ISLAMABAD: Members belonging to opposition parties continued their boycott of the National Assembly proceedings on Tuesday and attempts by PKMAP Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Information Minister Mr Pervaiz Rashid to persuade the opposition to return to the house failed to change the opposition parties stance.
First Mr Mahmood Khan Achakzai went to the chamber of Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah and then Pervaiz Rashid also met the opposition leader asking him to end the boycott as the Prime Minister would be attending and session on Friday and address the house.
The opposition leader however said that they would attend the session on Friday and stressed that the Prime Minister should answer the questions raised by the opposition about PanamaLeaks.
He said he was not in favour of slogans of “Go Nawaz Go”.
On the other hand, the Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told the National Assembly on Tuesday that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend proceedings of the house on Friday and reply to questions raised by the opposition.
Replying to a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition in the House, Pervaiz Rashid said the Prime Minister will answer questions raised by the opposition.
He said the Prime Minister will attend an already scheduled meeting of national institutions today and tomorrow he will go to Tajikistan. Therefore, the Prime Minister will attend the proceedings of the House on Friday.
The Minister said the Prime Minister is not hesitant to attend the House proceedings; rather, he feels happy to listen to the opposition members and speak in the House.
He recalled that the Prime Minister has already written to Chief Justice of Pakistan to set up a commission to probe Panama Leaks. He said the government has also prepared Terms of Reference [TORs] of the commission. He said the opposition has also prepared their TORs.
Pervaiz Rashid said the Prime Minister wants to present truth before the commission. However, he regretted that now there is less talk on the commission by the opposition. He said the opposition is now more interested that the Prime Minister should come to the House and speak on the issue.
Earlier, on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khurshid Shah said the Prime Minister should take the Parliament into the confidence on the Panama Papers issue.
He said the opposition wants to maintain the respect and decorum of the House and does not want to vitiate the atmosphere.
The Leader of the Opposition along with opposition members then staged a walkout from the House saying that they will attend the session on Friday.
Lal Chand pointed out the quorum and the proceedings of the House was suspended due to lack of quorum.
Responding to a call attention notice, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad said maximum facilities are being provided under the revised in-service death package for the government employees.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor and others regarding not providing permanent jobs under the in-service death package for the government employees, Shaikh Aftab said employment is being provided to one child of the deceased government servant on contract basis which is extendable. He said efforts are also made to adjust the contract employee on permanent basis.
Speaking to media outside the parliament on Tuesday, opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah said, “We are striving to strengthen the democracy in the country and the parliament in the only way to do so.”
He said the PM must clear position and respond to the opposition’s demands regarding judicial investigations into Panama Papers.
“We don’t want any confrontation but the PM should clear his point of view and take parliament into confidence on his assets and tax details,” Shah demanded.
INP