Way ordinances being approved had dented reputation of Parliament: Raja Pervez 

Islamabad: Former premier and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf said that the way ordinances were being approved through simple resolutions had dented the reputation of Parliament.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said in the last NA session, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, he had told the chair that there were reports of the government presenting a "mini-budget" in the assembly.

"I had said that it will make life more difficult for the people of Pakistan, but the chair had dismissed my concerns," Ashraf said. "When, in fact, that was the time for the opposition to speak on the matter."

He further complained that when the bill was presented today, even then the opposition was not being heard.

The PPP leader also said that in his response to Asif, Umar had not addressed any of the questions and issues raised by the PML-N leader.

"He (Umar) failed to satisfy this House," Ashraf added.

He urged the speaker to reject today's (Thursday's) proceedings so that opposition and treasury members could present arguments on the matters taken up in the session anew.

He urged the speaker to reject all the proceedings held on Thursday which, he claimed, had bulldozed the bills through the house.

Later, Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the opposition had the right to present its point of view, however, "the government's job is to put forth facts before people".

As Qureshi continued to speak, the opposition members pointed towards an incomplete quorum in the House. Responding to the opposition's objection, the speaker adjourned the session till Dec 31.

Planning Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar lambasted the opposition for criticising the government over national security.

Speaking to the floor of  NA session, Asad Umar responded to Khawaja Asif and blasted the opposition for talking about the national security after taking up residence in the Gulf countries on work permits which declared them, what he said, “dhobi and nai” (washermen and barbers).

Reacting to Asif's remarks about surrendering the sovereignty of Pakistan, he said: "A Pakistani leader is speaking about surrendering the country's sovereignty. I call that shameful."

"They invited [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi to their house," he said, making an apparent reference to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

Umar said that international bodies have praised Pakistan’s performance to contain Covid-19.

“The opposition had been trying to scare the nation by making a hue and cry over the SBP amendment bill.

"The difference between them and us is that when they work to curb dengue, they have to advertise about it themselves. But when we work to curb Covid-19," international forums praise the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government, Umar added.

Talking about the “expired” ordinances, he said that only the speaker could tell if the ordinances had expired or not, but “I want to ask if we must hear the speeches from these expired politicians.”

On the other hand, former defence minister and Pakistan Muslim League-N senior leader Khawaja Asif has asked the incumbent government for mercy on the people of Pakistan on Thursday. 

He said while speaking to floor of the NA when Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin presented the mini-budget Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 in NA session. 

"You're giving SBP's control to IMF. Please have mercy on the people of Pakistan. Don't sell Pakistan. You allowed people to loot the country for three years," the PML-N leader said.

Khawaja Asif said the government had violated the Constitution by presenting an ordinance that had already lapsed and expired.

"You're giving SBP's control to IMF. Please have mercy on the people of Pakistan. Don't sell Pakistan. You allowed people to loot the country for three years," he said.

He urged the House to not let Pakistan surrender its sovereignty. "Surrendering Pakistan's economic sovereignty is more dangerous than that of the surrender in 1971," he said while referring to the East Pakistan debacle.

He said the whole nation was ashamed of what was happening in the parliament.

Earlier, Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin presented the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2021 — or the mini-budget as the opposition calls it — in the National Assembly amid uproar from the opposition benches.