Ruckus mars in-camera briefing

“Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who was also present in the meeting, assured these Parliamentary Leaders that four Federal Ministers including Foreign, Interior, Defence and Finance would answer the questions raised by parliamentarians over security related issues on their return from China on October 17 during the debate session,” the sources said.

When asked the PML-Q Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat confirming the report said, “PML-Q has reservation over Wednesday’s question hour session that is going to be conducted by Information Minister who surely can’t answer all raised queries.”

“On our objection, the Prime Minister assured us that on Wednesday’s question hour session, National Security Advisor Mehmood Ali Durrani would assist Sherry Rehman while four heads of crucial ministries on their return from China would give answers to the queries raised by parliamentarians during debate session,” he added.

Faisal said it was hard to take part in debate unless the lawmakers could get comprehensive answers to their questions and it was impossible in the absence of the heads of four key ministries. “The Prime Minister has assured Opposition that question/answer session will not conclude on Wednesday and the MPs would be allowed to ask questions during four-day debate session with respective ministers on their return from China on October 17,” he stated.

Sources further told this correspondent that in the house business advisory committee meeting PML-Q and PML-N proposed that the debate should be open so that the whole nation could learn about the facts regarding national security issues while JUI-F and Fata MPs opposed the idea terming it a security threat for them. “JUI-F and Fata MPs said if the debate became open, it would be tough for them to speak candidly due to fear of retaliation from extremists,” the sources said.