Call for Altaf’s return home angers MQM

The News 20 September 2013 ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) exchanged hot words in the National Assembly (NA) over remarks about Altaf Hussain’s return to Pakistan on Thursday. PPP MNA Sardar Kamal Khan Chang, during the debate on the presidential address, suggested that the MQM should advise Altaf Hussain to return to the country. At this, MQM MPs stood on their benches and started an outcry. They exchanged hot words with Chang. MQM legislator Rashid Ahmed Godel, on a point of order, stated that under the rules, no comment could be made on any person who was not present in the House, so these remarks should be expunged. The MQM also staged a walkout from the National Assembly in protest over power outages in Hyderabad.Raising the issue on a point of order, MQM legislator Wasim Hussain said there had been a power breakdown in Hyderabad since Wednesday evening and protested against the provincial government. Earlier, PTI legislator Shireen Mazari pointed out the quorum but when after the assembly bells rang for five minutes, the quorum was found complete.Taking part in the discussion on the presidential address to the joint sitting of parliament, PPP’s Abdul Sattar Bachani said that all the institutions of the country would have to collectively think about the country. “We must not sacrifice the national interests for the sake of our personal interests.” Dr Arif Alvi of the PTI said there was a need for new legislation over awarding the right of vote to overseas Pakistanis as the ordinance signed by former president Asif Ali Zardari would not serve the purpose. He said there were flaws in the ordinance as the law in countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and many others would not allow the overseas Pakistanis to cast their votes. Talking about the operation in Karachi, the PTI leader said no target killer in the city had yet been convicted, which was alarming. “There is a need to improve the judicial system in the country, as most of the terrorists nabbed are later acquitted by the courts,” he stressed. The MNA said the All Parties Conference (APC) resolution should immediately be taken to the United Nation’s General Assembly as it would help in building international pressure on the US over the drone attacks issue. He demanded to expunge the remarks of Mahmood Khan Achakzai whereas he had declared Karachi as a city of terrorists.He said Quetta and Karachi both were affected by terrorism but these were not cities of terrorists. APP adds: Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal Khan told the NA that the country was facing two billion cubic feet gas shortage, hence there was no plan to cut the import of crude oil. During the Question-Hour in the Lower House, he said due to many problems inherited by the PML-N government, a comprehensive methodology would be worked out to overcome the gas shortage. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said a proposal was under consideration of the government to launch a transit project for the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor. Replying to questions during the Question-Hour, he said a tentative alignment has been cleared subject to feasibility studies containing commercial, technical and hydraulic aspects of the project. Also, Act 1973 (the legal practitioners and Bar Councils (Amendment) Bill 2013 was introduced in the National Assembly here on Thursday. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmad introduced the bill.