Heated debate in NA over ISPR's 'governance' statement

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers in the National Assembly engaged in a heated debate over a recent statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stressing the need for "matching and complimentary governance initiatives" to supplement the ongoing military operation against terrorism from the country.

At the Corps Commanders Conference on Tuesday, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif had acknowledged the nation's support in the ongoing operations to eliminate terrorism. But the army chief also "underlined the need for matching/complimentary governance initiatives for long term gains of operation and enduring peace across the country", said the ISPR statement.

Referring to the prime minister and the army chief, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awam Party (PkMAP) leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai on the floor of the assembly today remarked that 'both Sharifs' would be on the same page if the Constitution was supreme.

Achakzai said that he would not support any foreign policy that is not made in Parliament.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, senior PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, saying that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not push his ministers for improvement of governance despite the army chief's directions.

He accused the PML-N government of not taking Parliament seriously despite two and a half years since it was elected into power.

Why would the ministers attend session if the prime minister himself has stopped coming to the House, said Shah.

During today's session, the opposition also submitted a call-attention notice over the lack of quorom and absence of ministers from the assembly.