WASIM IQBAL

ISLAMABAD: The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday, opposing the demand of certain parties for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and dissolution of assemblies.

A Senator belonging to Pakistan People’s Party, Saeed Ghani, moved the resolution along with a motion requesting for resumptions of a debate on the situation arising out of the ‘Azadi and Iniqlab’ marches in Islamabad.

The resolution states that the senate rejects the demands of certain parties regarding resignation of the Prime Minister and dissolution of the assemblies and deplores derogatory, instigating and defamatory language used by leaders of these parties.

Senator Afrasiab Khattak of Awami National Party (ANP) claimed that the ‘Inqilab’ march and ‘Azadi’ march turned out to be a failure.

Senator Usman Saifullah of PPP said the sit-ins in Islamabad would have serious repercussions on war against terrorism. According to him, a delayed government action of strategy had led to the current crisis. However, Saifullah said his party wanted that the government must complete its term.

Pakistan Muslim League (N) Senator Mushahid ullah Khan said that the ruling party was showing restraint and patience with regard PTI and PAT sit-ins. He asked Imran Khan and Dr Tahir ul Qadri to desist from using derogatory language in their public addresses.

Another Senator of PML-N, Zafar Ali Shah, also objected to the use of ‘derogatory language’. He alleged that Imran in his address to his supporters had said that those sitting in the parliament were thieves and dacoits. He said that Imran should not use such language against honorable parliamentarians.

Rubina Khalid of PPP said people observed that there was collective madness on both sides and criticized the media for giving round-the-clock coverage to their sit-ins.

Senator Farhatullah Babar of PPP moved a privilege motion asking the upper house for taking notice of ‘vandalism’ outside the Parliament by supporters led by Tahirul Qadri and others. He said he tried to enter the parliament building on August 20 but was not allowed to enter as a road leading to it was blocked by the mob while Qadri was asking his stick-wielding crowd to seal the parliament and not let anyone come out or enter to it.

He said the sit-in of mob outside the parliament posed an imminent threat to nation’s security as the stick-wielding supporters of the parties might also demand control of the nation’s assets at a later stage.