Members of the opposition flayed the Pakistan government on Thursday for neglecting the granddaughter of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. A local TV channel recently revealed that Jinnah's granddaughter was living in abject poverty in Karachi.
Jinnah is considered to be the founder of Pakistan and is respectfully referred to as Quaid-e-Azam (the great leader).
The heated argument in the parliament house prompted one senator to announce a donation of Rs 10,000 every month to the descendant of the Quaid-e-Azam.
During a call attention notice, senators Anwer Baig, Mian Raza Rubani, Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa and professor Khurshid Ahmed blasted the government for not providing any assistance to Jinnah's granddaughter.
Senator Baig quoted an interview given by Jinnah's granddaughter's husband, talking about how his wife suffered from several health problems and had to travel to the hospital by public transport.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Niazi and senator Baig got involved in a heated argument when the latter pointed out that the government was spending millions in providing luxury vehicles for the president and the prime minister, while the granddaughter of the founder of the nation was forced to travel in public transport.
"We are in the parliament house because of the struggles of the Quaid-e-Azam. The federal government has asked the Sindh government to provide her with whatever she needs," the parliamentary affairs minister responded.
The opposition also demanded the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for failing to unfurl the national flag in front of parliament on Independence Day, terming it as a disgrace to the nation.
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