• Party senators submit requisition for house session to discuss FIA raid on lawmaker’s house
• Saifullah Nyazee submits motion against Islamabad police

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the formerly ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday lashed out at the coalition government for what they called creating religious discord against party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Separately, the party submitted a requisition for a Senate session on the raid on Senator Saifullah Khan Nyazee’s residence in Islamabad.

Former religious affairs minister Noorul Haq Qadri, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser and former federal minister Iftikhar Durrani held a press conference here in the capital and alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was running an organised campaign to make former premier Khan controversial among people.

Their reaction comes hours after PML-N federal minister Javed Latif, in a press conference, alleged that Mr Khan had “attacked the basic principles of Islam” while in power.

Former minister Qadri, who enjoys a following among religious circles, said he had joined the PTI due to the party’s both religious and political ideologies. He said Imran Khan always expressed his love and respect for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He warned that the allegations levelled by the government were dangerous and could lead to divisions and violence among the masses.

Asad Qaiser also criticised Latif’s statements, saying such comments would lead to religious discord. He claimed former prime minister Khan was at the peak of his popularity and their party comprised people from all segments of society.

Iftikhar Durrani said the government was violating the National Action Plan as well as the Constitution by spreading religious hatred. He alleged that the PML-N was founded on the basis of dictatorship.

Senate session requisition

Meanwhile, a delegation of PTI senators, led by leader of the opposition in the house Dr Shahzad Waseem, submitted a requisition to Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani for a session of the upper house of parliament on the alleged political victimization of party Senator Saifullah Khan Nyazee and violation of the sanctity of his private residence by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers and armed policemen.

The delegation comprised senators Dr Waseem, Nyazee, Faisal Javed, Azam Swati, Abdul Qadir, Saifullah Abro, Seemee Ezdi, Fawzia Arshad, Dost Mohammad and Falak Naz Chitrali were also part of the delegation.

The senators asked the upper house chairman to take appropriate action on the breach of the privilege of a parliamentarian.

Dr Waseem claimed Senator Nyazee’s house was raided by FIA officers and armed policemen as part of the continued political victimisation of PTI leadership and workers. He further said the sanctity of the PTI lawmaker and his private property had been violated.

Senator Nyazee also submitted a privilege motion against the Islamabad police and FIA over the breach of his privilege. He said as soon as he reached home, he was ambushed by a dozen FIA officers and armed policemen who snatched his mobile phone and took away laptops from his car.

“They entered my house violating the sanctity of my private property and even barged into my bedroom,” he claimed.

Nyazee said they searched through his belongings and took away many other things, including his wife’s mobile phone. He said the behaviour of the FIA and Islamabad police, including alleged harassment of his wife and daughters, was tantamount to the breach of privilege of the house of the federation and its member, therefore, the Senate chairman should take appropriate action on this breach.

It is worth mentioning that the FIA Cyber Crime Wing late on Tuesday night raided the house of the senator and confiscated his laptop, phone and other gadgets. According to media reports, the agency believed a website titled ‘Namanzoor.com’ was being operated from the senator’s residence.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2022