Ruckus in Senate over passage of military trials resolution

There was a ruckus in Senate on Tuesday as lawmakers clashed over the way a resolution backing the military trials of civilians was railroaded through the House on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

As the session turned into a fish market with rival members raising noises the chair adjourned the House until Friday on the pretext of lack of quorum.

As the Senators insisted on talking about the resolution backing the military trials of civilians arrested in the wake of violent protests in the country on May 9, Deputy Senate Chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi refused to give the mike to anyone and adjourned the proceedings until 10:30 am on Friday.

The quorum was pointed out when senators sought to speak on the resolution. The Deputy Chairman ordered the bell to ring for five minutes. A count was conducted, but the house was not in order, leading to the adjournment of the session.

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's Saadia Abbasi requested the withdrawal of the resolution passed by the Senate, saying more than 90 members were not present in the House when the resolution was passed.

Speaking during a point of order, she termed the resolution’s passage as against the spirit of the Constitution and democracy. She asserted that the Supreme Court's verdict on military courts was in the best interest of Pakistan.

“The resolution was not part of the agenda, this process is against democracy,” she said, arguing that the decision of the Supreme Court was not related to the judges personally but was as per the Constitution.

“This resolution is condemnable. The members should also strongly condemn it,” the PML-N senator remarked in the House.

The senator also urged the caretaker government to take steps to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan. She called for addressing the repatriation issue of Afghan nationals nationals through diplomatic channels.

A number of senators including Raza Rabbani and Mushtaq Ahmad sought permission to speak on the subject when the chair did not accept, triggering a commotion in the House.

“Let the agenda complete first, then I will give time to speak,” said the deputy chairman.

Upon uproar, PML-N Senator Saifullah Abro pointed out the quorum in the meeting.

The required number of members was not present in the House on counting, and subsequently, bells were rung in the galleries for five minutes on the orders of the deputy chairman and the House was put off for Friday.

 

Reporter Usman Khan