Last NA session: Fireworks likely on govt-Qadri deal

NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Contentious issues like the agreement between the ruling coalition and Tahirul Qadri and Governor’s rule in Balochistan are expected to lead to some fireworks in the 49th session of the National Assembly.

The incumbent government has less than 57 days to complete its five-year tenure while the National Assembly requires 42 days to complete the required number working days before its dissolution on March 16 this year.  The 49th session of the National Assembly would be the last session of the fifth parliamentary year and to complete 130 working days of the parliamentary year, it would require to dissolve assemblies no earlier than March 1.

According to sources, during the upcoming session of the National Assembly and Senate, the government may announce the date for the dissolution of assemblies and next general elections. 

The issue of energy crisis and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country would also be discussed in the next National Assembly session.  Deputy Secretary-General of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Ahsan Iqbal told Business Recorder that the party would also raise the issue of what he termed the ‘Topi Drama’ performed by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran leader Dr Tahirul Qadri in Islamabad in the National Assembly session. He said that his party would also discuss losses sustained by traders of the Blue Area in Islamabad because of the sit-in.

He said that the issue of caretaker set up would also be disused in the Lower House of parliament. He said that the government should announce the caretaker set up as early as possible.

PML-N’s Secretary Information Senator Mushahidullah Khan told Business Recorder that his party would oppose the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2012 for whitening black money if the government tabled it in the House.  Answering a question about anti-terrorism bill, he said that five years had passed but the government did not pass any anti-terrorism law, adding that he did not see any movement in this regard in the last session of the National Assembly.