Resolution to debate expulsion of French envoy in NA

. “I’ll hit you with a shoe,” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said to Speaker

. PPP boycotted the NA sessions

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Tuesday afternoon passed a resolution condemning the blasphemous caricatures in a French magazine, after hours the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and government reached an agreement to tackle the violence that had broken out.

Meanwhile Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday said that the recently proscribed TLP has agreed to call off protests across the country. “Talks with the party will continue,” he said.

The resolution demands:

– The expulsion of the French ambassador should be debated in parliament

– All European countries, especially France, should be conveyed the seriousness of the matter.

– All Muslim countries should be consulted and this issue should be jointly presented before the international community.

The matters concerning international relations were the prerogative of the state and no person, group or party could exert pressure illegally when it came to this. Resolution reads.

Opposition Angry
The Opposition was angry that the government had not taken parliament into confidence on the situation that had developed following the arrest of Saad Hussain Rizvi.

“This resolution should have been unanimous. You adjourned the House yesterday and called it today. You and the government did not bother to talk to the opposition regarding the purpose of calling the [session],” Abbasi said, addressing Speaker Asad Qaiser. “You wanted to bring a resolution, the [right] way is to talk to the opposition.”

“This resolution is inadequate,” the PML-N leader said, requesting that the opposition be given an hour to study the draft and suggest any additions so that the resolution could be passed unanimously today.

State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said the resolution based on the exact discussions held between the government and the TLP was moved by a private member and therefore the government did not plan to make changes to it.

After the resolution was adopted rather hurriedly, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stood up to speak. He came right in front of Speaker Asad Qaiser’s dais.

“You have no shame,” he cried.

“Mind your language,” warned the Speaker. “You always behave like this.”

“I’ll hit you with a shoe,” retorted Abbasi.

“I’ll do the same to you. Stay within your limits. Go to your seat…!”

PPP boycotted the session

Bilawal Bhutto hours before start of session through a tweet said;

“Agreement wasn’t brought to NA, the government took action on streets, then banned, people killed, over 500 policemen injured, closed internet, PM didn’t make a statement in NA, didn’t take NA into confidence at any stage,”

“Now PTI wants to hide behind NA. It’s your mess PM, clean up or go home,” PPP chairman added.

PML-N and JUI-F have, on the other hand, announced to attend the NA session.

The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and a government team reached an agreement after three rounds of talks.

The negotiations began after continuous and violent protests from the religio- political party and its supporters across the country since last week. The protests began over the publication of blasphemous caricatures in a French magazine.

Last week when its chief Saad Rizvi announced to march on Islamabad, he was taken into custody.