Opposition wants parliament session for point scoring: Shibli

Federal Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Sunday said that the opposition parties only want to summon the National Assembly session for point scoring purpose.

Speaking to a TV channel, he said that the National Assembly and Senate sessions have been summoned on the requisition of the opposition parties. He however predicted that those who have requisitioned it would not attend the proceedings.

“The assembly session should not be held in the current circumstances for a couple of more weeks,” he suggested citing fresh coronavirus cases among the parliamentarians.

Speaking regarding NAB law, the information minister said that the PPP lawmaker Farooq H Naek prepared a draft proposing amendments in the NAB law.

He however said that the opposition parties want a law that allows free passage to their leaderships facing corruption charges.

“We on the other hand want an institution that is independent and have enough powers to carry out accountability,” Shibli Faraz said while opposing political victimisation in the guise of accountability.

He said that although NAB was used as a tool to harass political opponents in the past, however, still its success rate in recovering looted money is up to 30 percent.

He further called for revamping the FBR and income tax department so that they could operate independently without any political pressures.

Shibli Faraz said that they would change the law pertaining to the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. The federal minister, however, said that he was unaware of any talks with the opposition on NFC award or 18th amendment.

Shibli Faraz further said that he unaware of the reasons behind the removal of the former special assistant on information Firdous Ashiq Awan and also denied that any inquiry was launched against her soon after her removal.