ISLAMABAD: Several Members National Assembly (MNAs) and Members Provincial Assembly (MPAs), mainly from Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), an ally of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at the centre, staged a protest and sit-in during the session of the Lower House of the Parliament on Tuesday against unscheduled and elongated power outages by K-Electric in the cosmopolitan city.
The protesting lawmakers demanded that government take immediate action to 'tame' K-Electric and bring an end to unannounced outrages in Karachi. They ended the protest after being assured by the federal government functionaries that their demands would be met.
In the National Assembly session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri, the lawmakers from different political parties also strongly criticized the K-Electric asking the federal government functionaries to intervene to stop the 'highhandedness' of K-Electric.
The National Assembly session started at 5 pm, an hour behind the scheduled time of 4 pm. This attracted the ire of senior Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Parliamentary Leader in National Assembly Naveed Qamar. "This has become a routine practice that the National Assembly session starts late and the members keep waiting. If this delay is due to the federal cabinet meeting than the schedule of the National Assembly meeting should have been devised accordingly to avoid any delay. The government is totally non-serious towards the Parliament," he said.
Qamar strongly criticized the role of K-Electric for its alleged failure in ensuring undisrupted power supply to Karachi. "Neither K-Electric is our friend nor are we satisfied with its performance at all," he said adding that the increase in fuel prices results in increase in the power tariff.
Qamar suggested that the issue of Abraaj Group's alleged support to Pakistan PTI be referred to the relevant National Assembly standing committee.
Engineer Sabir Qaimkhani from MQM-P said that the lawmakers from Karachi have brought their case against K-Electric in front of the Parliament. "The Parliament should take notice. I urge the government functionaries to intervene and help the people of Karachi to get rid of the sufferings caused to them due to the highhanded policies of K-Electric. Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan where millions of people are suffering due to the policies of K-Electric. It's high time, this organization is tamed, the sooner the better."
He requested Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan to assure the members sitting outside the Parliament that their grievances would be addressed on priority basis. "These lawmakers are protesting in public interest, not for their personal interests. They must be heard properly and action be taken to resolve their issues," Qaimkhani said.
Omar Ayub strongly criticized the former federal government of PPP, saying it signed controversial agreements that wreaked havoc on Pakistan's power sector. "Pakistan's loan was Rs 7000 billion in 2007. When the PPP government completed its tenure in 2013, this loan had risen to Rs 14,000 billion and when the PML-N completed its tenure in 2018, this loan had reached Rs 30,000 billion." He asked the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Khurram Dastagir to "think before you speak-and level allegations. Base your conversation on truth and facts instead of levelling wild allegations."
Dastagir alleged that the present federal government obtained unprecedented loans but failed to ensure any development in the country. When the PML-N government completed its term in power, Pakistan's loan was Rs 24,212 billion which has increased to Rs 34,489 billion during the ongoing stint of the present government which has taken a loan of Rs 10,277 billion, he said adding that this government has taken an average loan of Rs 15 billion loan daily.
Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda said the PPP granted unprecedented favours to K-Electric when it was in power at the centre. "Now they (PPP) leaders are crying foul. In reality, they are the ones who showered unending blessings on K-Electric."
Vawda suggested that economic experts from both the government and opposition should sit together. "They should be given 30 days to review the economic policies of present and previous governments. I challenge that the truth will come out."
Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said the present federal government has returned Rs 5000 billion loan obtained by the former governments. Pakistan's stock market became world's third fastest growing stock market under the tenure of present government, he said adding that the rating of Pakistan's passport has been improved by six points internationally.
The foreign remittances witnessed an increase of $ 3.2 billion this year as a result of prudent economic policies of the government, he said.
He said trade deficit decreased, while information technology exports surged by 26 per cent.
Abdul Qadir Patel from PPP held Federal Minister for Railways Shaikh Rashid responsible for more than 90 railway accidents during his tenure. He also accused Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar from "playing havoc with PIA (Pakistan International Airlines)."
On petrol prices, Patel said "Across the world, petrol is available at throwaway prices but in Pakistan, people are exploited by oil cartel and mafias."
Khawaja Asif from PML-N spoke on the plight of millions of Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and strongly criticized the policies of federal government regarding IOK and India. "Yesterday, on the day of Kashmir martyrs, we opened Afghan Transit Trade with India. We forgot that 22 Kashmiris sacrificed their lives while giving Azan. The struggle of Kashmiris predates the independence of Pakistan.
Why was the day chosen for the start of the trade? This trade (Afghan Transit Trade) has taken place before, but why was it necessary to announce the same day? The way India is oppressing Muslims is in front of the whole world. One million troops are deployed in occupied Kashmir. If it was done for Afghan peace, it could have been delayed a bit," he said.
Meanwhile, as many as 19 reports of various National Assembly standing committees were presented in the National Assembly session. These included Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2019, Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Interest on Private Loans Bill, 2020, the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) (Amendment) Bill, 2018, Federal Newborn Screening Bill, 2019, Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Islamabad Rent Restriction (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan (Re-organization and Conversion) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Financial Institutions (Recovery of Finances) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Banking Companies (Recovery of Loans, Advances, Credits and Finances) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Islamabad Capital Territory Food Safety Bill, 2019, Microfinance Institutions (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Press Council of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Export Development Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2019, National Insurance Corporation (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Trade Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The proposed amendments on in Rules 48, 69, 112 of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the National Assembly, 2007, were presented in the House for reading a "Hadith" after the recitation and translation of Holy Quran with the starting of session of the Parliament.
Three bills-The Right to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2020, The Islamabad Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were introduced in the House.
Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Suri referred the bills to relevant standing committees of the House for their review. The National Assembly would meet again on Thursday.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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