A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior witnessed intense drama on Wednesday after a heated exchange erupted between Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers over the CDA Amendment Bill.
The clash began when PPP MNA Shazia Marri raised concerns over the lack of facilities for differently-abled persons in Capital Development Authority (CDA) buildings, insisting that the legislation she proposed was within her constitutional right. However, she accused the government of attempting to suppress this legislative initiative.
“I will bring a privilege motion,” Marri asserted. Responding defiantly, Talal Chaudhry said, “Bring the motion -- I will face it.”
This triggered a furious reaction from senior PPP leader Nabil Gabol, who lashed out at the minister's tone and accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of arrogance. “You got your majority in charity. Don’t forget, we’ve toppled a government before, and we can do it again,” he said.
Amid the escalating confrontation, three PPP members — Shazia Marri, Agha Rafiullah, and Nabil Gabol — staged a walkout from the meeting, citing disrespectful behaviour from the state minister.
Gabol later told reporters, “The way the minister of state responded to our members shows that PML-N believes its slim majority absolves them of needing allies like us. This arrogance is unacceptable.”
The committee meeting, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz, also discussed the contentious issue of increased property transfer fees in Islamabad. The chairman said the matter had created widespread public discontent, with citizens approaching lawmakers to voice their grievances.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addressed the issue, stating that the PM had already formed a committee to examine the matter. He reassured the committee that any unjustified increase in CDA fees was not acceptable and that corrective measures would be taken.
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