ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that never before has there been such an incompetent government as the government of Imran Khan.
A session of the National Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Panel of Chair Ayaz Sadiq. After the Prime Minister’s remarks, Raja Pervez Ashraf was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the National Assembly. PPP members chanted slogans on the occasion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while congratulating the Speaker on being elected to a high post, said that he was a seasoned politician and had also held the post of prime minister. I hope you will take the whole House with you, he added.
Raja Pervez Ashraf took the oath of office and after the introductory speech said that he was very grateful to Allah Almighty for holding such a dignified position. I am grateful to Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and Shehbaz Sharif. Increasing the esteem and respect of the House is my aspiration and first priority, he said.
He said that he was grateful to each and every member including the prime minister, Khalid Magsi and Akhtar Mengal. I was elected unopposed as the 22nd Speaker and this is the first time in history that a former prime minister has been given the post of Speaker. I will be a servant and loyal to the House, he said.
The Speaker National Assembly said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto has also been elected unopposed as the Speaker of this House. The solution to the problems lies not in slogan politics but in consultation and mutual consent. This House is the guardian and protector of the right of expression, he added.
Addressing the assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that loadshedding was going on in the country at present while there was enough capacity of power generation which was sufficient for the whole country.
He said that the government which went through a no-confidence motion did not pay any attention to power management and new plants were shut down due to shortage of gas and oil. Such an incompetent government has never come to Pakistan, he said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto while congratulating Raja Pervez Ashraf on his election as Speaker said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto accepted martyrdom but did not allow fire to burn on democracy.
“People are feeling it and there is a glimmer of hope,” he said. Now the institutions and the people are looking at the Prime Minister. Institutions should also become constitutional instead of being controversial. The way it was played with the constitution made the world laugh.
A resolution of condolence on the demise of Balqis Edhi was moved by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the National Assembly which was passed.
Bilawal Bhutto said that Bilqis Edhi’s services to humanity will always be remembered and Bilqis Edhi should be awarded national honors.
