PPP’s Farhatullah Babar resigns from Senate defence committee

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party leader Farhatullah Babar resigned from Senate’s Standing Committee on Defence on Friday.

While speaking to the media, Babar refused to comment on the reason for his resignation. However, he raised questions over parliamentarians visiting the General Headquarters.

PPP Punjab secretary resigns from post

Sources reveal that the leader’s resignation was not accepted by PPP chairperson

Babar referred to an instance from 2003, saying when GHQ wanted to give briefing to parliamentarians, the latter were called to the headquarters. The PPP leader said there is only a distance of 15 kilometres between the Parliament and GHQ, therefore, there should not be an issue for such a briefing to be given in the Parliament.

“Parliamentarians should not go to the GHQ, but instead GHQ should come to the Parliament and give briefing,” Babar said.

Farooq H Naek has replaced Babar in the defence committee. 

Babar was a vocal member of the defence committee. He had also been active regarding the issue of missing persons, besides other problems pertaining to human rights.

At a demonstration held for the international day against death penalty, Babar said legal rights in cases of execution must be ensured, reported The News. 

On the occasion, the PPP leader had said there can be no disagreement on presumption to innocence until proven guilty, the right to proper legal defence and declaring confession extracted through torture as illegal. 

Babar has also served as the spokesperson for PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari during the party's tenure.