Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Members of National Assembly (NA) have strongly protested against the government’s decision to allow former president Pervez Musharraf to travel abroad and demanded this matter be taken up in parliament.

Speaking in the house, PTI MNA Dr Arif Alvi said the government had asked for imposing Article 6 on Musharraf “but it has humiliated the whole Pakistani nation” by allowing him to go abroad. Shazia Marri said that high treason case was instituted against the former president. She said the House be told what was the reason that Musharraf was allowed to travel abroad.

Speaking on a point of order, Dr Shireen Mazari asked what is the need of parliament if it is not taken into confidence on issues of foreign policy. “Parliament should have been taken into confidence before joining the 34-country coalition,” she said. “If Pakistan Army is used against any country who will be responsible for it? This should be explained in the House,” she demanded. Maulana Amir Zaman of JUI, meanwhile, said no development funds are being provided to him despite the fact that he had voted in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Maulana Jamaluddin said that steps be taken for honourable return to their homes of those people who had left North Waziristan for Afghanistan due to operation Zarb-e-Azb. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that steps would be taken in collaboration with interior ministry to bring back Pakistanis honourably. Separately, National Assembly was informed on Friday that Pakistan is exporting 2,700 metric tones of gypsum to India daily through Wagah border from July last year to date. Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan told the House during question hour that gypsum is being exported to India in “crushed loose form” for $22 per metric tonne.

To a question, he said the major reason behind decline in Pakistan’s exports is massive reduction in prices of commodities in the world. He said another reason is major recession in the international market and slowdown in China, which resulted in decreased demand. However, he said there is a decrease in exports in terms of value and not in terms of quantity. The minister said the main focus of the trade policy is on value addition. He said last year record cotton was produced last year, adding that no data has been collected about damage of crops this year.

Answering a question, Khurram Dastgir said performance of foreign missions of the country is being vigorously monitored. He pointed out that except some diplomatic missions, Pakistan is keeping minimum diplomatic presence in different countries to maintain diplomatic relations. He said zero tolerance is being ensured against corruption in Foreign Office. Dastgir informed the House that Pakistan has consistently supported all the regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism.

He said since the key objective of the 34 Muslim countries alliance with Saudi Arabia is to counter the threat posed by terrorist groups, Pakistan has joined the alliance. He pointed out that operation Zarb-e-Azb is helping to fight terrorist groups within the country. He said Pakistan is expected to share its counter-terrorism experience with other interested member countries.