0
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani came out a happy man from his historic Supreme Court experience on Thursday morning, but the anger caused by the suffocating security measures on the occasion echoed loudly in the Senate.
“We, the politicians, get blamed and abused for the discomfort that unnecessary security causes to the people,” said Senator Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party who went on to demand resignation of Interior Minister Rehman Malik for, what he called, disturbing the city life and creating fear and panic among people.
Mr Khan and his party colleagues joined a walkout over the issue of sacking of the employees of Karachi Electric Supply Company.
PPP leader Raza Rabbani provided a greater surprise when he too joined the walkout after making a demand that the government take back the control of KESC from the present administration.
Mr Malik gave reasons for tight security but these did not cut much ice with the Senators who had to walk to parliament and fight their way through identity checks and sneers from office workers stranded on the streets.
Eventually, the minister apologised for the discomfort and assured that it won’t happen again.
Soon after completion of question hour, the ANP senator on a point of order asked Chairman Farooq Naek to summon the interior minister, who was not present at that time, to question the logic of sealing the whole city when the prime minister was to appear in the Supreme Court.
Mr Khan said the prime minister almost daily travelled on the Constitution Avenue and that there was no need for taking such strict security measures. He said the minister should be asked to explain why he spent too much money from the national exchequer on the unnecessary security arrangements.
“What was the reason for flying a helicopter? Was Islamabad under attack from terrorists?” he asked.
The senator said that such steps were creating hatred for parliament, politicians and even democracy among the masses and the minister should be taken to task.
Later, Mr Malik came to the house and defended the administration for taking strict security measures.
He claimed that he had to adopt these measures after getting information at about 2am in the night that some people in ‘black coats’ could cause trouble on the day.
He said the helicopter fitted with close-circuit cameras flew over the city for sometime on his directives.
He invited the wrath of more senators when he asked them to praise the officials of the law-enforcement agencies for making foolproof security.
Senators Salim Saifullah Khan, Seemin Siddiqui and Dr Abdul Malik rejected Mr Malik’s reply and said there was no justification for making the “residents of Islamabad hostage” on the basis of information.
Senator Rabbani drew the attention of the minister towards non-functioning of the scanners installed outside the Parliament Lodges, the official residential apartments of the legislators.
The minister asked the members to apologise him for the inconvenience caused to them and citizens and assured that in future he would make sure that life in the city should not be affected on such occasions.
ANP’s Afrasiab Khattak criticised the government for not taking any step to improve the working of KESC. He condemned sacking of the KESC employees and asked the government to take steps for their reinstatement.
He announced that his party would stage a walkout to register its protest over the sacking of the employees.
Mr Rabbani said there had been serious issues with KESC and the government should immediately “take over its management.”
Later, he joined the ANP senators in their walkout on the issue.
Senate Chairman Farooq Naek asked the Leader of the House Nayyar Bokhari to ensure the presence of Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar on Friday morning to explain the situation developed due to sacking of the KESC employees.
