LAHORE: Making good use of its numerical superiority in the Punjab Assembly, the ruling party on Tuesday successfully countered a move by the opposition to pass a resolution against the increase in petroleum prices. The resolution against the increase in petroleum prices was tabled by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed during the Private Member’s Day. He said that the constant increase of petroleum products’ prices would increase inflation and multiply problems facing the poor people of the province. The opposition leader also declared such an increase in petroleum prices a proof of the failure of the economic policies of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. He said that the latest price hike would increase the burden of taxes on the common man, who were already paying several types of unjustified taxes. On the occasion, Parliamentary Secretary Nazar Hussain Gondal offered the opposition benches that the treasury benches could support the resolution if they amended it to exclude the demand from the federal government to withdraw the increase in petroleum prices. However, the opposition members strongly opposed the offer and walked out of the House in protest. The House then rejected the resolution through the voting held by the speaker. Tuesday was the Private Member’s Day and a number of resolutions were submitted, including a demand to construct ‘mini dams’ in all districts of the province to provide clean drinking water to the masses; a condolence resolution on the death of senior journalist Munnu Bhai, and a demand to increase staff and provide machinery for laboratories of Nishtar Hospital, Children’s Complex and Civil Hospital in Multan according to the population of the city. During Tuesday’s session, charged legislators from both the treasury and the opposition benches also raised slogans about the by-elections results in Lodharan. In connection with the Valentine’s Day that is going to be celebrated on February 14 across the world and in Pakistan, PTI member Malik Taimoor Masood from PP-8 filed a resolution in the assembly secretariat against the teenagers who celebrate the day. He demanded the government take strict action against such celebrators and punish them. The PTI legislator’s resolution stated that Valentine’s Day had no link with the local culture. “It is also against the teachings of Islam. On the day, girls are harassed by teenagers on the roads who try to give them roses. Girls are afraid to go to schools and colleges,” he said. Published in Daily Times, February 14th 2018.