President Pakistan Muslim League-Q NWFP, Engineer Amir Muqam has said that all the cases framed against PPP leadership were declared null and void under the National Reconciliation Order (NRO).
Taking part in the debate on budget in the lower house, Muqam said it was not 'fair' to say people rejected President Pervez Musharraf in February 18 polls, as PPP bagged 10.5 million votes whereas, PML-Q got 8 million and PML-N secured 6.8 million votes, asserting that PML-Q is with President Musharraf and he do not regard all PPP voters as anti-Musharraf.
"We must have trust in the Parliament. Instead of long march or short march why resolution is not being tabled in the parliament for the restoration of judiciary. If the government have two-third majority, minority will accept it," Amir Muqam maintained. He urged the media to avoid, what he said, sensationalising of news, particularly President and Army Chief meeting.
Amir Muqam said that peace in NWFP would lead to peace in the whole country, urging to remove political shortcomings for the sake of peace. He said changing of province's name as 'Pukhtoon Khawa' will do no good.
Net hydel profit is the demand of the province, it should be given to NWFP, he urged. Justice Ajmal Mian committee recommended Rs 134 billion, he maintained. About law and order situation in NWFP, he said kidnapping for ransom is on the rise but the government has not been able to recover any person, he added.
Taking part in the debate, MQM Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar said heavy taxation and removal of subsidies is a two-edged sword in the wake of sky-rocketing food inflation, which is snatching the purchasing power of common man. He said that no step has been taken for change, we can't move ahead without reforms, adding we are monitoring the performance of new government from June 11.
"Without political stability we cannot achieve economic stability. This budget will widen the gap between rich and the poor", he added. He said common man problems are jobs, shelter, food and drinking water. "We see no steps in the budget to move forward and reduce poverty and price-hike", he maintained. "Cosmetic actions have been taken in the budget. There is skyrocketing price-hike, people are committing suicide, selling their children, Sattar said. He proposed that land reforms and co-operative farming could bring stability in supply of food items.
If we will not end feudalism we will not prosper, he opined. Food, fuel, power prices will increase cost of production, therefore public-private partnership be encouraged to boost the economic activities, he added. Revival of textile industry is necessary to maintain exports at a certain level. Presently there is 7.6 percent increase in cost of production of textile industry.
He said allocation for social sectors like health and education are very meager. About 5 percent of the total allocations of GDP has been earmarked for these sectors. Provincial autonomy is must, sales tax collection be given to provinces, he urged. He said there is potential to generate 7000 MW from wind mill in Sindh coastal areas, suggesting the potential be exploited for overcoming the smearing energy crisis. Solar energy can also be harnessed in Sindh, Sattar added.
Desalination Plant be set up in Karachi to overcome power shortage, moreover mass transit projects be started in big cities to overcome transport problems, Sattar emphasised. He demanded that NFC award be constituted to lessen the financial woes of the provinces. Sattar said, "we must mend our fences with India and curtail defence budget for the welfare of people"