Govt under attack over ISI

The Leader of the House said that a press release had been issued clarifying that the ISI would still function under the Prime Minster. However, Qazi told that only another notification could abolish the earlier and not the clarification through a press release.

At the start of the session, Chairman Senate administrated oath of newly elected Senator Syed Akbar Shah of Balochistan National Party (Awami). Newly elected Senator also staged a token walkout against the arrest of senior leader Sanaullah Zahari of BNP (Awami). On the walkout, Leader of the House Mian Raza Rabbani told the House that Sanaullah Zahari was not in custody. “The Police seized the area where Zahari was present,” he told adding that he would present details in the House after cross checking.

Journalists staged a walkout from the press gallery to register their anger over the torture of two local journalists by Director Federal Directorate of Education.

Meanwhile, the joint opposition staged token walkout against the thrashing of photographer and reporter of a daily newspaper. Opposition Leader Kamal Ali Agha criticised the incident and said that no FIR had been lodged so far. He demanded that FIR should immediately be registered against the culprits.

Online adds: The ruling party PPP on Monday submitted a resolution to the Senate for abolition of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).

Presented by PPP’s Finance Secretary Senator Babur Awan, the resolution sought transfer of all the powers to Parliamentary Committee to enable it to decide about the future fluctuations in oil and petroleum products.

Both the Treasury and the Opposition members have given their recommendations for entrusting this matter to Parliamentary Committee.

On the other hand, Advisor on Parliamentary Affairs Izhar Marwai maintained that the resolution was already in the Senate, however the formal decision to bring it before the House would be formally made by Chairman Senate.

He said after presentation of the resolution to the House, the government would decide whether to support or oppose it.