Raza Rabbani demands joint session of parliament on TTP talks

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Thursday raised the issue of the state’s negotiations with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and demanded clarity from the government.

The senators expressed immense displeasure over the recent session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security convened at the PM”s Office where lawmakers were briefed on the peace talks.

PPP Senator Raza Rabbani the Parliament is “always used as a rubber stamp”. He said negotiations were being held with the TTP while the government was throwing its own people in jail.

“There will be no use of presenting the TTP agreement before the Parliament if it cannot be amended later,” he said.

Rabbani said an in-camera session of the Joint Parliament should be called to inform lawmakers about the terms and conditions of the negotiations

“I am surprised that we can speak to the TTP, but production orders for Ali Wazir could not be issued so far despite several requests,” Rabbani added. He said MNA Ali Wazir should be made part of the budget discussions.

READ MORE: In-camera session of parliament to be called about talks with TTP: Rana Sana

Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed expressed displeasure over not been invited to session despite being a member of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).

He said a session on negotiation with TTP took place at the PM’s Office which had representatives of some political parties but not everyone was invited.

He said there should be clarity and the house should be informed that which committee’s session was held as he was not invited to the meeting.

Senator Muhtaq Ahmed added that the government has assured to brief the Parliament on the negotiations. He slammed the government and asked it whether the Parliament was a “rubber stamp”.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear that negotiations will be in line with the Constitution. He assured the talks will be held in consultation with the Parliament.

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