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PML-Q MNA, Railways minister in war of words

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: An opposition member from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour exchanged harsh words in the National Assembly on Wednesday when the PML-Q member criticised the ministry’s affairs.

On a point of order, PML-Q’s Sheikh Waqas Akram asked Bilor why his ministry had not resumed the train service that was suspended after a train was torched by an angry mob in Jhang.

Bilour said those “who set ablaze the train should be punished. The transporters were behind this incident ”. The comments enraged Akram, who said he was also a transporter and the minister’s comments were directed against him.

Akram said inquiry reports had revealed that a banned sectarian group was behind the arson, but the minister was blaming local transporters.

The speaker intervened and adjourned the matter when the sparring got out of hand.

Earlier, the NA speaker asked the Railways minister about Tuesday’s train accident in Karachi. The minister said the accident occurred due to the negligence of the driver who did not stop on a red signal. He said search for the driver, who fled the scene, was underway.

PML-Q’s Raza Hiyat Hiraj raised the issue of the government’s inaction to protect farmers, whose paddy crop was going to waste.

Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Gondal said the government had directed concerned departments to purchase the produce from farmers at an appropriate price.

Also, parliamentarians expressed mixed reactions over the passing of a bill for the protection of women from sexual harassment.

Female parliamentarians praised the bill and congratulated the Standing Committee on Law and Justice and former information minister Sherry Rehman for raising the issue in parliament.

However, others expressed concern that the law could be misused.

PPP’s Ijaz Virk said the House did not take into account the reservations expressed by the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII).

He said the misuse of this law could result in an increase in the divorce ratio and shut the doors of employment on women.

PML-Q’s Riaz Pirzada, PML-N’s Rasheed Akbar Khan also expressed similar reservations.

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