The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganisation) Act, 1996 [The Pakistan Telecommunication) (Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2005] while the opposition termed it a bid to pave the way for the multinational companies (MNCs) to multiply profit.
It was for the first time that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal members, though hesitatingly, joined the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy legislators in the walkout against 'media trial' of Benazir Bhutto.
Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians leaders Khurshid Shah and Naheed Khan demanded of the chair to take notice of Information Minister Rashid Ahmed's statement in a television show that the Swiss case was a question of life and death for the PPP chairperson.
Taking up the legislative business, the chair asked Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications Ali Asjad Malhi to read out the bill clause by clause.
He defended the piece of legislation, saying that it would not only encourage foreign investment, but would also boost network of telecommunication across the country.
He said that due to the government's prudent policies, the telecommunication sector had witnessed unprecedented growth and attracted billions of dollars investment in the shortest possible time.
During the clause by clause reading of the bill, after the members from both sides had made speeches the other day, the opposition called for head count on clause 2 and clause 9 of the bill as a result of which 91 and 92 members were in favour of the bill while 62 and 66 respectively opposed.
The members from both sides showed less interest and majority of them had left the assembly before the bill was put to final vote.
Opposition members Farid Paracha (MMA), and Ghulam Murtaza Satti and Zafar Ali Shah (PPPP) opposed the bill and contended that the proposed legislation was aimed at exposing over 150 million consumers to multinationals to multiply their profits.
They charged that the move was to create a tribunal in place of the involvement of the High Court would open many 'negative ways' to fleece consumers and it would go strongly in favour of foreign investors.
The members asked to what extent the government would be in control of the telecommunication sector vis-à-vis defence and security aspects.
An explanation was also sought from the government about the allocations from the proposed Universal Services Fund under the PTCL for services and for provision of telecommunication facilities through out the country.
They also strongly objected to enlargement of the board of directors and inception of MP-I and MP-II grades for giving representation to bureaucrats.
"Is this the promise General Musharraf made to the nation that the government size will be cut and the bureaucracy de-politicised," asked Zafar Ali Shah, referring to President Musharraf's first address to the nation.
Paracha complained that four amendments had been incorporated in the bill after it was vetted by House Standing Committee on Telecommunications. "This amounts to neutralising the committee's recommendations on this important matter," he added.
Satti said he saw in the legislation, among others things, a bid to facilitate Eitisalat that had apparently backed out from the deal to buy 26 percent shares of PTCL.
Before the legislative business, Naheed asked Speaker Amir Hussain to review his decision of allowing points of order after the orders of the day was done away with.
She drew House attention towards the minister's remarks about political future of PPPP leader. She expressed fear that the government was bent upon political victimisation of her leader.
The MNA requested the chair to stop ministers from issuing statements against Benazir Bhutto, adding that despite her media trial spread over seven years, she would come out clean.
She led the walk-out, joined by PML (N) and later by MMA members, who were persuaded by Tehmina Daultana and Saad Rafique to follow suit.
Khurshid Shah condemned the minister's statement, calling it a shameful act, and demanded of the chair to take notice of it.
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