War of words in NA between treasury, opposition members

Little legislative work carried out during shortened proceedings

AN unseemly shouting match broke out between treasury and opposition members in the National Assembly (NA) on Friday over treatment being meted out to former prime minister Imran Khan in prison, with the situation growing so bad that proceedings had to be halted abruptly.

Only one agenda item had been taken up by then. The episode showed there’s no hope for reconciliation soon between the two sides as they have hardened their stances.

During the verbal clash, members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed their founder-chairman was being denied even some basic facilities in jail, but the treasury members said he was enjoying luxurious conditions “akin to a five-star hotel” there, sources said.

The opposition members began raising slogans against the government when Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Hanif Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-N made hard-hitting speeches in which they explained the sufferings they were made to endure under the Khan-led government. They alleged the former premier and his party colleagues were exaggerating his problems in jail only to secure a deal.

However, the house witnessed particularly ugly scenes during Mr Abbasi’s speech, when members from the two sides of the aisle entered into a sloganeering contest, compelling Speaker Ayaz Sadiq to adjourn the sitting till Monday evening. By that time the house had only completed the question hour, which too remained suspended for nearly half an hour due to lack of quorum.

The troubles began when Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan, while speaking on a point of order, alleged that PTI’s founding chairman is being maltreated at Rawalpindi’s Adiyala Jail. He alleged that Mr Khan was not being allowed to meet his family members and party leaders. He was not even being allowed to talk to his sons, who live abroad, by phone.

He also highlighted what he called the “humiliation of the party’s parliamentarians” at the hands of jail authorities and security personnel. He asked the speaker to take notice of the humiliation they faced outside the jail, as they had to wait for hours on end.

The opposition leader also highlighted the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, the alleged political victimisation of PTI leaders and activists, the damages caused by the recent spell of monsoon rains and the ongoing protest by employees of the Utility Stores Corporation over the government’s decision to close down the organisation.

Omar Ayub also criticised the government over the slowdown of internet services. He also regretted that the authorities had allegedly placed restrictions on press conferences by Baloch activists, including Mahrang Baloch, at the Quetta Press Club. 

Responding to the opposition leader’s speech, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the PTI chairman should prove his innocence in the courts of law, instead of making a hue and cry before the media. He alleged the PTI founder was asking for an NRO-like relief.

He added that almost all senior PML-N leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remained in jail and proved their innocence before the courts. He said the PTI leaders during their rule used to ask for receipts from the jailed PML-N leaders, but they themselves were now unable to provide the receipts the courts were seeking in corruption cases.

He claimed the best possible facilities, like that of a five-star hotel, were available to Mr Khan in the prison.