Senate session adjourned after PPP walkout over canals project

ISLAMABAD: The Senate session descended into chaos once again on Tuesday as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) staged a walkout over the contentious canals project, while members of the Sunni Ittehad Council and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protested over not being given time to raise points of order.

The session, presided over by Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani, was abruptly adjourned until April 25 after Senator Shahadat Awan pointed out the lack of quorum. In the midst of the disruption, PTI senators chanted slogans accusing the PPP of “hypocrisy” on the canals issue.

Leader of the Opposition Senator Shibli Faraz slammed the government and the PPP, saying the beginning of the new parliamentary year should have been an occasion to address unresolved issues from the past year. “Sindh is practically paralysed, and the people are protesting over water rights. Yet, the PPP has taken a contradictory stance,” he said.

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He accused the PPP leadership of supporting and denying the canals project at the same time, and criticised the lack of representation for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) in the Senate. “We submitted a resolution on March 5 demanding timely elections in KP. If things go on like this, KP could be left without any representation by 2027,” Faraz warned.

He further noted that KP had borne the brunt of terrorism and had made countless sacrifices, yet its people were being denied their constitutional rights.

The session witnessed high drama when opposition senators gathered in front of the chairman’s dais, shouting slogans including “Water theft unacceptable”. The uproar led PPP members to stage a walkout in protest against the canals project.

Despite the uproar, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar continued his address, urging for dialogue. He assured the House that the issue of canals would be resolved through constitutional means. “Nothing will be bulldozed.”

He also revealed that PPP leaders had been in contact with PM’s aide Rana Sanaullah over the issue.

Earlier, the Senate session began with a prayer for Pakistani victims of a traffic accident in Saudi Arabia, led by Maulana Abdul Wasay.

Senators also observed a one-minute silence in honour of Pope Francis following reports of his death.

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Chairman Gilani also announced presiding officers for the panel of chairmen, including Senators Sherry Rehman, Irfan Siddiqui, and Saleem Mandviwalla. Prayers were also offered for the late mother of Senator Faisal Sabzwari and father of Senator Palwasha Khan.