Islamabad, Aug 6 (IANS): A joint session of Pakistan's Parliament on Tuesday saw an amended resolution being presented on Kashmir after the opposition protested in the House as the resolution presented by the government did not mention the reason for which the session had been called: the scrapping of Article 370.
The session started with Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Khan Swati moving a resolution condemning Indian actions in the Valley.
The session had to be adjourned for 20 minutes later, as the opposition insisted on including a clause relating to Article 370 in the agenda.
Following the ruckus by the Opposition, Senator Swati presented the amended resolution before the House, mentioning Article 370.
The joint parliamentary session, summoned by President Arif Alvi, was to review the tense situation in Indian Jammu and Kashmir and along the Line of Control after the Indian government abolished Article 370.
Prime Minister of the so-called 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' Raja Farooq Haider was among the leaders present in the session, which was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser. Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif were among those in attendance.
The Opposition refused to hear policy briefing from Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, and demanded that Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi address the House.
The agenda for the session stated, "This House may discuss the illegal and coercive attempt by India to alter the disputed Status of Indian Occupied Kashmir through repeal and revocation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution by the Indian Government and the recent surge in unprovoked firing and shelling on unarmed civilian population across the Line of Control and use of cluster bombs by Indian forces in 'Azad Jammu' and Kashmir; deployment of additional troops and atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other recent developments."