Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif unearthed the facts related to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur's mysterious disappearance after the August 8 rally in Islamabad on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Khawaja Asif, while addressing the Lower House, disclosed that CM Gandapur was seen sitting with ISI officials in Kohsar after a rally, almost the whole night.
Khawaja Asif said, "CM Gandapur is a number two man, don't trust him."
Khawaja Asif strongly criticised the double standards in politics and pointed out that the same leaders who once collaborated with state institutions are now speaking against them.
During his speech, Asif acknowledged a proposal presented by Bilawal Bhutto and noted that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had formed a special committee to address the Parliament's concerns.
However, the defence minister expressed disappointment, stating that the committee’s purpose was lost when it seemed tailored to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) interests.
He said he had protested within the committee and declined to participate further, emphasising that the committee should represent the narrative of the House, not individual parties.
Addressing broader issues, Kh Asif condemned the lack of response to derogatory remarks made by Ali Amin Gandapur against the woman Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
He highlighted that the current coalition government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has not used the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against opponents, unlike during the PTI regime.
Khawaja Asif criticised the PTI for its past actions, including storming the Parliament, occupying the Prime Minister's House, and filing cases against the daughters of the sitting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The defence minister called for the end of contradictions in politics, urging a reflection on past abuses of power and advocating for a new political tradition.
He noted that when the no-confidence motion succeeded, the Assembly passed 52 bills in just 20 minutes before being dissolved, showcasing the flaws in parliamentary procedures.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said, "PTI, in its tenure, had kept the House (National Assembly) hostage to the establishment in order to maintain their power."
NA informed govt sponsoring construction of 32 dams
The National Assembly was informed on Friday that the federal government is sponsoring construction of 32 dam projects during the current fiscal year, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Minister for Water Resources Musadik Malik told the house during question hour today that once completed, these projects would store about 84,29,288-acre feet of water. The new areas which would come under irrigation after completion of the dams would be 436,934 acres.
Musadik Malik said each province is getting its water share. He said a contract has also been awarded for installation of an automatic telemetry system to end water related disputes between the provinces.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar told the house that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed National Vocational and Technical Training Commission to train nurses as per the international standards. He said this will enable Pakistan to meet demand of nurses both at home and abroad.
Reporter: Tayyab Saif