Islamabad: Senator Kamran Murtaza of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has urged Chairman Senate Yusuf Raza Gilani to raise two critical issues during the ongoing session of the upper house: the recent boat tragedy in Greece and the U.S. sanctions imposed on four Pakistani institutions.
During the session, Senator Murtaza demanded that both matters be discussed, highlighting the impact of the U.S. sanctions on Pakistan’s missile program and the tragic loss of lives in the Greek boat accident.
The Senate session, presided over by Chairman Gilani, also saw journalists protesting against cases filed under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA). The journalists staged a walkout, calling for the end of such cases against their community.
In response, Chairman Gilani took note of the protest, and Senators Saleem Mandviwala, Aoun Abbas, and Haji Hidayatullah made efforts to address the concerns of the journalists, with Senator Aoun Abbas suggesting the formation of a three-member committee to resolve the matter. Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar assured the media that a meeting would be held after the session to discuss the issue with the journalists.
Regarding the U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Department of State announced new restrictions on four Pakistani entities involved in Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. These sanctions target institutions allegedly involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. statement emphasized that the sanctions are part of efforts to curb nuclear proliferation and related procurement activities.
Senator Murtaza also expressed his outrage over the Greek boat disaster, which resulted in the deaths and disappearances of several migrants, including many Pakistanis. He called for a strong response against those responsible for the tragedy.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a list of 47 Pakistanis rescued from the sinking vessel, but many others remain missing, with few hopes of survival. The Greek authorities have declared those missing presumed dead and have ceased their search operations.
The Senate session was adjourned after a brief discussion, with Chairman Gilani assuring that both issues would be addressed after the question hour.
