Nightmare continues for the Shaukat Aziz-led administration, as the chair once again abruptly adjourned the session on Tuesday sensing strong criticism by the opposition as well as some treasury members over unprecedented price hike in petroleum products.
Both the treasury and opposition lawmakers submitted eight adjournment motions to discuss the recent price hike, but federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan not only opposed these motions, but said the members cannot even speak on the admissibility as the matter was sub judice.
The adjournment motions were submitted by the Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and some ruling members headed by Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Yaqub Khan, who was in the chair, admitted their motions, but the federal parliamentary affairs minister opposed them.
Sher Afgan said the matter was in the Supreme Court and, therefore, cannot be discussed in the House as per Rule 93 of the Constitution, triggering uproar from the opposition benches. Recent increase in the prices of petroleum products has been challenged in the Supreme Court on Monday.
The opposition lawmakers, including Syed Naveed Qamar, Aitzaz Ahsan, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, Ghulam Murtaza Satti, Liaquat Baloch, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and others created rumpus over Sher Afgan's arguments.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Yaqub was also apparently not satisfied with the arguments of Sher Afgan and asked him to let them (opposition) speak on the admissibility.
Speaking on the occasion, former finance minister Naveed Qamar said it was a matter of grave public importance. "It is a matter of utmost importance and, therefore, we as a representative of the people have every right to discuss the issue that is hurting them," he added.
Naveed said the POL prices have triggered a sharp increase in almost every basic commodity. It is the government's hidden agenda to create chaos among the masses by using such tactics so that it could impose martial law in the country, he alleged.
Dr Farid Ahmed Paracha from Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said the present government has increased oil prices 34 times in last six years, adding that a mafia was functioning in the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) under the umbrella of the some people in power.
Raja Nadir Pervez said the government's mismanagement has resulted into price hike of all basic commodities. He stressed upon the government to regulate oil prices, which have left bad impacts on industrial and agricultural products as well.
Meanwhile, Sher Afgan asked the chair to stop the opposition members speaking on the admissibility of the motions. Sher Afgan said the government was ready to discuss the issue in the Parliament but let the apex court give its decision at this stage. As the opposition lawmakers felt that they would not be allowed to speak further on the issue, they staged a noisy protest. The deputy speaker having no other possible option adjourned the House till Friday.
Comments
Comments are closed.