PML-N accuses govt of playing double role on Davis

ISLAMABAD - MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique of PML-N has alleged that the federal government is playing double role in the case of Raymond Davis who killed two Pakistanis in Lahore. "On this issue, the federal government has two faces; one for the foreigners and the other for Pakistani people. It has been saying to foreigners that the Government of Punjab is not ready to release Davis," Khawaja said while talking on a point of order in the National Assembly on Tuesday. He said that Punjab Police had also written a letter to Foreign Ministry to get permission to approach Davis' other companion who hit another Pakistani on the same day in Lahore. He added that police had not yet received any reply from the foreign ministry. "The US State Department has stated that the name Raymond Davis was not his original name while he himself has not yet told what he was doing in that area. Beside the police have not found any proof that could establish him a diplomat," he said while adding that according to some information he was a contractual employee of US embassy and was working on a special task. "We should tell US if their courts are free and they can not release Aafia then Pakistani courts are also free and they will decide the fate of Davis," he added. He also brushed aside the allegation that Davis was shifted to Embassy in late night and said that the Government of Punjab would not accept any external pressure and the police were presenting him handcuffed in the court. MNA Atya Anayatullah from PML-Q termed it an extrajudicial killing and said that after drone attacks, US had now started killing Pakistanis on roads in major cities. The driver of the other car should be handed over to police. "Who allowed Davis to carry weapon? If US police recover a pistol from me, what will they do with me and what they did with Faisal Shahzad?" she questioned. Haji Fazal Karim of PML-N, however, said that in December 2010, the visa of Raymond Davis was expired and it should be checked who extended his visa. He went on saying that more than 100 US spy were working in the federal capital. He further questioned the allotment of land to US Consulate in Karachi. However responding to parliamentarians, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira while quoting President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan had categorically stated that Raymond Davis would be dealt according to Pakistani law. "We are with the of Punjab and will follow the law," Kaira added. He was of the view that parliamentarians should not discuss the issue as it could affect the investigation process. He said the investigations were under way and things would be cleared after it. He further said that the land to US Consulate was given in the regime of previous government. However it was according to the procedure, he added. Earlier Abdul Qadir Baloch pointed out the law and order situation in Balochistan and said that the incidents of kidnapping for ransom were increasing in some areas while a number of people had been kidnapped on their way to Karachi from Khuzdar. He also revealed that people who were kidnapped from Karachi were being shifted to the areas of Balochistan. He said that police high-ups of Balochistan had already stated in a press conference that the ministers were protecting these criminal gangs that were 76 in numbers. This house should discuss the situation in Balochistan, he demanded. Earlier, MNA from Fata Akhwanzada Chatan said that people of Fata wanted to be educated and facilitated in all means and the government should immediately abolish FCR. He said if the FCR system was as good then why it was not implemented in the whole country. He warned that people of Fata would also demand a free Fata like the demand of free Balochistan if FCR was not abolished. Aftab Khan Sherpao and Abid Sher Ali pointed out the poor condition of industry in the country. They said that the heavy loadshedding had affected the labour class in the country and almost 300 factories in Fata had been shut down while a number of industrialists were setting their businesses in Bangladesh. Meanwhile the house also took some legislative business, as it Tuesday was private members day. In the legislative business, the house passed the amendments in the Private Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2009. Dr Donya Aziz moved the amendment. The amendment was meant to enhance transparency in privatisation. MNA Anusha Rehman moved the amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. According to this amendment each ministry would send its annual budgetary proposals to its concerned standing committee. Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, however, sent this amendment to the concerned committee, which would look into it. Meanwhile responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for Health Makhdom Shahabuddin told the house that almost 1.2 billion syringes per year were being used in Pakistan while the local manufacturers were producing around 700 million syringes per year. He said that the ministry was trying to register all such products. Minister for Petroleum Naveed Qamar while responding to a calling attention notice said that the debt of PSO could only be reduced if its customers paid back their dues. He said that energy sector was purchasing petrol on market price while the tariff of Nepra was as low as it could not pay its dues to PSO. Earlier the Deputy Speaker has to suspend the proceedings of the house as PPP MNA Justice (Retd) Fakhar-un-Nisa pointed out the quorum.

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