Combined opposition walked out of the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday against the government benches' resistance to the proposed amendment in the Removal from Service (Special Powers) Ordinance-2000.
It was unexpected on part of the opposition not to press for admissibility of their adjournment motions on increase in POL prices and upward revision of electricity tariff by KESC. The chair promised some of their members to speak on the motions, clubbed together, on Wednesday or Thursday.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sher Afgan Niazi opposed the motions, saying the House had already held debate on the subject and similar exercise within four months could not be repeated.
Dozens of opposition MNAs, for the first time, filed motions against POL prices' increase contending, "we had already condemned and protested against the price hike in the last NA session, but the government has added fuel to the fire of dearness again. People have been forced to commit suicides, as they can't afford even one-time meal."
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) acting parliamentary leader Nisar Ali Khan wanted to know why debate on pricing formula of POL products was not held. It was a clear violation of the government commitment to bring down their prices, when these had come down to dollar 55 per barrel in the world market, he added.
Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Deputy Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, who wanted to move the bill, deplored the ruling coalition's opposition to the bill, saying, "it means, they support senior officers' special powers to fire their subordinates without any solid reason".
For the grant of permission to move the Service (Special Powers) (Amendment) Bill, 2005 in the House, the Speaker Amir Hussain had to go for head count after the opposition challenged his voice vote decision. However, as many as 85 members opposed the initiative while 65 supported it. Hence the permission was not granted.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz made a brief appearance in the assembly and shared some moments as usual with the opposition leaders, including Liaquat Baloch and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
In a rare move, the government and opposition benches supported a bill to amend the Marriage Functions (Prohibition of Ostentatious Displays and Wasteful Expenses) Ordinance, 2000. MMA's Laeeque Khan had floated the bill. It was referred to the House Standing Committee.
Mian M. Aslam's bill to amend the Islamabad Rent Restriction Ordinance, 2001 and another bill by MMA's Liaquat Baloch were referred to the relevant House committees for further consideration.
However, another MMA bill to provide security and well-being of pauper relations in accordance with the Constitution: The Security and Well-being of the Pauper Relations Bill, 2005 was rejected. The chair called for the government-opposition consensus on the contents of the bill before bringing it to the House, as this would require a two-thirds majority for passage.
Earlier, responding to a calling attention notice by PPPP's Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman, Dr Azra Fazal, Zulfiqar Gondal and Manzoor Ahmad, Water and Power Minister Liaquat Jatoi assured the House that within 7-10 days, the provinces would get water as per their indent, as due to increase in temperature, water flows in rivers had gone up. He also held out an assurance to the members that more water would be released downstream Kotri.
As the House resumed business after the two-day recess, many opposition lawmakers spoke on the agitating affectees of the Margalla Towers collapse. They were carrying banners and placards in the scorching heat outside the Parliament.
The chair informed the House that State Minister for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warriach would have a meeting with the affectees, and the House members, who are interested, on Wednesday could be also part of the same.
Taking strong exception to ministers' absence from the assembly, the chair insisted that citing personal engagements, cabinet members could not skip the proceedings.
The House will now meet on Wednesday at 10:00 am.