The senators of the Popular Party of Pakistan (PPP) organized a protest during a session of the Senate on Tuesday against the controversial project of the channel, accusing the federal government of the theft of water and asking for an urgent debate on the subject.
The session, chaired by the president of Senate Yousaf Raza Gillani, began with opposition members expressing frustration for not having time to increase the points of order, said Express News.
The tensions intensified when PPP senators stopped their seats, singing slogans such as “non -acceptable water thieves” and “stop stealing Sindh’s water.”
Senator Saifullah Abro highlighted the ongoing protests in Sindh, where people have demonstrated for more than a week. He stressed that several parts had presented resolutions in the Senate against the Canal Project and demanded the opportunity to speak.
President Gillani responded by requesting the senator to speak after the time of the question. However, Abro organized a sitting in front of the president’s stand.
Gillani suggested that the matter be taken to the floor for the debate through coordination with Senator Sherry Rehman. PPP senators, dissatisfied with the answer, organized a session strike.
The law minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, assured the Chamber that the Government was open to dialogue and would not be forced to any decision without proper consultation. He confirmed that the cabinet members were present to answer questions.
In the midst of the protest, President Gillani pointed out a quorum call, but initially confirmed that the house had the required number of members. However, a posterior count revealed that the quorum was incomplete, which caused the sound of the bells in the Galleries of the Senate.
The protest intensified with the senators of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) that raise strong slogans. Senator Humayun Mohmand criticized the government, stating that it was shameful that treasure members raise quorum objections. Senator Falak Naz Chitrali Cantó, “PPP drowned in shame.”
At one time, only a senator of the ruling Muslim League of Pakistan-Nawaz (PML-N), Nasir Butt, remained sitting in the camera.
The opposition leader Shibli Faraz also criticized the government, noting that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had been deprived of his representation of the Senate for a year. He condemned the failure of filling the vacant seat left by Sania Nishtar and said that certain parts had blocked the electoral process.
President Gillani replied that the Electoral Commission had been duly informed of the vacancy. However, as the quorum remained incomplete with only 19 members present, the president postponed the session until Friday at 10:30 am
