Daily Times

Opposition parties in the National Assembly on Monday strongly protested over poor economic situation of the country and recent hike in the petroleum prices, compelling Speaker Asad Qaiser to adjourn the session till Wednesday.

As the session began, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) started protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over inflation, increase in the prices of petroleum products and what they said toeing the line of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The opposition lawmakers raised slogans against the government. They were also carrying placards inscribed with different slogans such as: ‘Increase in petroleum products unacceptable’; Stop economic murder of people’; ‘IMF policy is unacceptable’.

The opposition members wanted the floor to speak but the speaker gave floor to Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar for responding to a calling attention notice. After it, the opposition members gathered in front of the speaker’s dais and started sloganeering.

Amid pandemonium in the House, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar said the previous governments approached the IMF for 21 times. He said in their tenures, the price of one litre of petrol had also reached Rs 113 per liter.

The opposition continued protest during the speech of the minister. The speaker tried to calm down the situation but failed. Later, he adjourned the House till 11:00am Wednesday.

Moreover, the opposition has submitted a ‘notice inviting attention’ in National Assembly Secretariat raising the issue of recent hike in petroleum prices announced by the government. The motion signed by key PML-N and PPP parliamentarians demanded an urgent debate in the House over hike in petroleum prices. The notice was signed by PML-N parliamentary leader Khawaja Asif, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb and PPP’s Shazia Marri. The notice has been submitted to secretary of the National Assembly under Rule-88 of the House.

Meanwhile, the House was informed that no lawsuit has been filed against National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the International Court of Arbitration. Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Malika Ali Bukhari told the House during question hour that an arbitration titled as Broadsheet LLC Vs Government of Pakistan (through NAB) is pending in Chartered Institute of Arbitration, London and High Court Justice in England. The subject arbitration is sub-judice before the tribunal and the High Court of Justice in England and prohibited from public discussions.

Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan told the House that an abundant supply of transformers is available at all sub-offices of power distribution companies and that their use will also be monitored. He said the last government gave power connections on political basis, resulting in an increase of Rs 450 billion in circular debt.

The minister said master trainers have been given training on safety aspects. Linemen and other technical staff have been provided helmets, gloves and other safety equipment. He said bucket vehicles are available at all offices. He said heirs of the deceased linemen have also been distributed compensation cheques.