Former prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party's senior leader Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said that Pakistan was the home of former president General Pervez Musharraf and his party has no objection to ex-army chief’s return to Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Responding to Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on the floor of the Upper House, Gilani said it was a futile exercise to hold discussion on this particular issue.

JUI Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haider said they should not create any hurdle in the return of Musharraf to the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py2O2KRokgA

Soon after the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan made hullabaloo over the news of Pervez Musharraf's return to the country, saying if he was brought then the doors of all the prisons in the country should be opened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tc-2JhlxFo

He said if he was pardoned it would be against the law because he was awarded capital punishment in the high treason case by the Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmed Seth.

He was of the view that if he was brought back to Pakistan, he should be treated as per the Supreme Court's decision otherwise it would put the credibility of the court's decisions at stake.

Journalists also stage a walkout from the gallery over mugging of female journalist Nosheen Yousuf.

Debate on budget

Participating in the budget discussion in Senate, Leader of the opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem said this is an IMF-backed budget and will bring more inflation in the country. He said the government should not cut the budget of the erstwhile FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan as they have strategic importance.

Senator Quratulain Marri while criticizing former Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the poor people are facing difficulties because of the failed policies of the previous government.

Mohsin Aziz suggested the Government to uplift the living standards of the general public instead of imposing more taxes on essential commodities.

Shaukat Fayaz Ahmed Tarin said that Ehsaas and other pro people programs should not be stopped as these are directly linked with the lives of the poor people. He said Undergraduate scholarships are yielding positive results.

The house has now been adjourned to meet again tomorrow at 10:30 in the morning. 

Six reports presented in House

Six reports of various standing committees presented in the Senate on Wednesday and granted an extension to two committees for submission of reports in the House.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Power, a member of the committee Senator Sana Jamali moved a motion under Rule 194 (1) seeking a 60-day extension for the presentation of a report on a point of public importance regarding the fuel price adjustment charges in electricity bills. The motion was passed by the House after voice voting.

On behalf of the Chairman of the Standing Committee on States and Frontier Regions, a member of the Committee Senator Dost Muhammad Khan moved another motion under Rule 194 (1) on a point of public importance regarding problems in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The House also passed this motion and granted a sixty-day extension to the committee for the presentation of a report on it. Meanwhile, six other reports of various standing committees were presented in the House on the issues referred to them.

Chairman of Standing Committee on Interior Mohsin Aziz presented a special report on the parliamentary year 2021-2022 comprising the performance and working of the committee. Chairman of Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Senator Faisal Javed presented the report on the Access to the Media – Deaf – Persons Bill, 2022), introduced by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla.

He also presented the report on a point of public importance raised by Senator Kamran Murtaza regarding conked-out radio transmitters and the alleged sale of radio station land. Chairman of Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui presented the report on a point of public importance raised by Senator Danesh Kumar regarding the non-provision of scholarships to the students of erstwhile FATA and Balochistan.

He also presented the report on the subject matter of starred question, asked by Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen regarding details of the students of Balochistan and erstwhile FATA being studying and those who have graduated under the programme of “Provision of higher education opportunities for the students of erstwhile FATA and Balochistan” during the last ten years.

On behalf of the Chairman Standing Committee on Petroleum, a member of the Committee Senator Rukhsana Zuberi presented a report on a point of public importance raised by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi regarding the non-provision of jobs to local skilled and unskilled workers of districts Kohat, Hangu and Karak by the Oil and Gas Development Company limited and MOL, an oil and gas exploration company.