Senate: Opposition for taking down NATO helicopters

ISLAMABAD: Condemning NATO and ISAF forces for cross border violations, Senators on Thursday demanded of the government to take immediate action and suspend transit facility being provided to NATO forces in Afghanistan.

On a point of order, Prof Khurshid Ahmed said that NATO forces were constantly violating borders and killing innocent people inside Pakistan.

"It is a sheer violation of international norms and direct attack on our sovereignty," he said adding "Our four soldiers embraced martyrdom in the attack by NATO forces. We have full right to defend ourselves."

He urged the government to take military action against them as they were continuously violating our borders.

Speaking on a point of order, Tariq Azeem asked the government to take prompt action and shoot down NATO helicopters violating Pakistan's aerial space.

He also requested the government to stop transit facility to the NATO forces stationed in Afghanistan.

He said," attacks on Pakistani civilians inside our country is against our sovereignty".

"Why action is not being taken as Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured that serious action would be taken?," he questioned.

Meanwhile, on a point of order, Ghulam Ali drew the attention of the House about the media report regarding non-payment of income tax by certain quarters including parliamentarians.

He said income tax was being deducted from salaries of all parliamentarians then why the mistake was not being rectified.

ANP leader Zahid Khan said that all Pakistanis were paying taxes on electricity, gas and telephone bills then why it was being said that Pakistanis were not paying taxes.

He said ," we are even paying tax on food items".

Haji Adeel said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should also extend date for submission of assets details till Oct 15 as the Federal Board of Revenue had already extended last date.

Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Hina Rabbani Khar said the ECP record could be rectified. The Prime Minister had twice contradicted the news about non-payment of taxes.

She said," it is our moral obligation to deposit taxes in the national kitty. We must bring those who are not paying taxes under the tax net".

To a point of order Col (R) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi called for immediate removal of PCB chairman as recommended by all three committees of the parliament.

He said the three committees of the National Assembly and Senate have unanimously adopted a resolution seeking the removal of Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ejaz Bhut as he was a main hurdle in promotion of cricket in the country.