Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers belonging to the opposition parties in National Assembly on Tuesday demanded a joint session of parliament for discussion on diplomatic crises in the Gulf region, which resulted in Arab countries severing ties with Qatar.

The opposition also demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to come and brief the parliament over Gulf crises. The demand was put forth in the National Assembly session on Tuesday, where Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah addressed the House. Shah, who claimed that Pakistan’s foreign policy was failing, said the Saudi-led alliance formed to reduce terrorism had led to an increase in terrorism.

Khursheed Shah criticised the Saudi alliance and asked that on which basis the former army chief was given the NOC. “What’s the purpose behind the Saudi alliance? How would it work?” he questioned. Ban on Qatar was result of the formation of the 41-nation military alliance, Shah opined, adding that the government was, in reality, too afraid to take decisive stance on the matter.

Khursheed Shah said that it was the job of the PM to take nation into confidence over the issue. Opposition members would not listen to anyone apart from the PM, he said, assuring that no one would chant slogans during PM’s appearance in the House.

The PPP leader pointed out that the government had encouraged the opposition to present the resolution on Qatar although it had presented an earlier resolution on Iran on its own. He claimed that despite Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s assurances to the House that a no-objection certificate (NOC) would not be issued to Gen (r) Raheel Sharif without reaching an agreement on the terms of the alliance, the NOC was issued the very next day.

The opposition leader requested the speaker to ensure that PM appears in NA to brief it on Qatar crisis today (Wednesday). Following Shah’s address, the opposition members walked out of the House.

Earlier in the day, the opposition parties held a meeting with Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Ali Shah in the chair to discuss the Gulf crisis. The meeting of the opposition parties came a day after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa left for Saudi Arabia on a visit aimed at resolving the diplomatic crisis. Before his departure, the premier chaired a consultative session at the Prime Minister House to mull Pakistan’s response to the crisis.

Meanwhile, the NA passed Finance Bill 2017-18 with majority vote to give effect to measures announced in the annual budget proposals for the next fiscal year.

The bill was moved in the House by Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid and adopted in absence of the opposition parties who had walked out from the House in protest against not telecasting their budget speeches live on state television.

Winding up discussion on budget in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said net debt to GDP has decreased from 60.23% to 59.3%.

The minister said 75 recommendations of Senate have been accepted totally, principally or partially out of total 276 recommendations, while 147 suggestions have been forwarded to Planning Division with favorable remarks. He said the amount of agri loan for small farmers has been increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 for a single crop. He said sales tax on the import of the machinery of small peter engines has been reduced from 20% to 3%.