Lawmakers denounce harassment and disappearances amid constitutional amendment push

During Thursday's sessions of the upper and lower houses of Parliament, lawmakers from both government and opposition benches expressed grave concerns over the harassment and disappearance of their colleagues. They cautioned the government against using coercive tactics to secure votes for the proposed constitutional amendment package.

In a Senate session chaired by Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Senator Naseema Ehsan spoke out against the violation of her home's privacy, tearfully urging for issues to be resolved through dialogue rather than violence.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) lawmaker Kamran Murtaza, also from Balochistan, warned of potential resignations if the situation persists, echoing BNP-M leader Akhtar Mengal's sentiments.

Murtaza condemned the harassment of Awami National Party (ANP) members, stating, "This is not the way to seek votes. While you may succeed, it is fundamentally wrong and hammers a nail in the heart."

ANP Senator Umer Farooq cautioned that people are being harassed for votes, which could lead to uncontrollable situations. The party's parliamentary leader, Aimal Wali Khan, raised the issue of the siege on Akhtar Mengal's home.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar noted that only three of his party members attended the session, fearing potential kidnapping to coerce their votes.

Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas from the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) expressed concern over the unknown whereabouts of PTI Senator Saifullah Abro, missing for several weeks.

In the lower house, opposition leader Omar Ayub accused the government of orchestrating forced disappearances of lawmakers, linking these actions to the government's struggle to gather necessary votes for the constitutional amendment.

Condemnations from the ruling bench

Notably, concerns about the harassment of lawmakers were raised not only by opposition parties but also by members of the ruling alliance.

In this video, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Parliamentary Leader Irfan Siddiqui describes the situation as "shameful for all and for the house," while Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman urges the government to protect senators from harassment by security agencies during a Senate session in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Senate of Pakistan

Sherry Rehman, a parliamentary leader from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a major partner in the ruling coalition with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), hinted at the source of the harassment and alleged kidnappings during her parliamentary address on Thursday. She urged the government to protect senators from harassment by security agencies.

PML-N Parliamentary Leader Irfan Siddiqui described the situation as "shameful for all and for the house," urging the relevant minister to address these concerns.

Another PPP member, Syed Ali Musa Gilani, condemned the harassment of PTI leader Zain Qureshi's wife and called for an investigation. He expressed concern for lawmakers' families' safety and questioned their involvement in the current political system.

Member parliaments allegedly harassed

Mahnum Kabir, wife of PTI lawmaker Shah Zain Qureshi, was allegedly abducted outside her residence. Shah Zain's sister, Meher Bano Qureshi, reported on Twitter that unidentified individuals in plain clothes forcibly removed Mahnum from her vehicle. However, she returned home safely a few hours later.

In a separate incident, PTI Senator Dr. Zarqa Taimur's son was reportedly abducted while she was abroad. PTI lawmaker Hammad Azhar tweeted that Dr. Zarqa confirmed harassment by security agencies, alleging they are responsible for her son's abduction.

Ahsan Riaz Fatyana, son of former PTI MNA Riaz Fatyana, was abducted from Defence, Lahore. The FIR states that unidentified individuals ransacked the house and kidnapped Ahsan. Police have registered a case against 25 unknown persons.

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal claimed on social media that two of his party's senators were being pressured to vote for a proposed constitutional amendment bill. BNP-M Senator Naseema Ehsan informed the House about her difficult situation and concerns regarding the violation of her home's privacy.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman alleged that one of his lawmakers had been abducted, with the lawmaker's children seeking refuge at Rehman's home. He also reported threats against another lawmaker.