Members of the treasury and opposition benches Friday traded barbs in the National Assembly on the second consecutive day of the session as the opposition demanded the speaker to issue production orders for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislator Khawaja Saad Rafique.
The opposition members accused the government of "holding the Parliament hostage" as neither any issue of public importance has been discussed nor any law has been passed in the last six months of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. The members of the opposition parties also staged a walkout from the House.
Speaking on the floor of the House, PML-N lawmaker Shahid Khaqan Abbasi lashed out at the PTI with a gas bill in hand for alleged incompetence and blamed the treasury benches of holding the Parliament hostage.
The former prime minister said they had no fear of accountability process but objected on the arrest of elected leaders without any evidence.
He demanded the speaker to issue production orders for Khawaja Saad Rafique. As Abbasi ended his speech, the opposition began tearing up gas bills in protest.
"The House has not seen any substantial debate despite the passage of six months. No laws have been passed, no resolutions have been tabled," he said, adding, "The masses are suffering due to the government's decision. I have run the Petroleum Ministry before, I can settle the issue for the government - send two officials, I will help them fix this."
Abbasi said that Parliament was not being used effectively to address issues of the masses. "We want the Parliament to work," he added.
Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri gave the floor to Federal Minister for Postal Services Murad Saeed to speak as the opposition continued to stage a protest, holding placards in front of the speaker's chair.
The opposition members raised protest by tearing up the inflated gas bills while PTI leader and Communication Minister Murad Saeed addressed the session.
The minister said the increase in gas and electricity prices was also the result of the flawed policies of the previous governments which left behind a circular debt of Rs 1,200 billion.
Referring to the Kulbhushan Jadhav case's public hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Murad said it was shameful that three-time elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's interview was being quoted by the Indian side in their defence.
He said the argument by recalling that it was opposition holding the the NA hostage. "First they wanted Shehbaz Sharif as Public Accounts Committee chairman. Now they are asking for Rafique's production orders." The minister said Pakistan was currently facing many challenges with India resorting to threatening tone against the country. He said Pakistan's image was improving under the leadership of Imran Khan. Pakistan prisoners in Saudi Arabia were also returning to the country due to the efforts of Imran Khan, he added.
Taking the floor, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Dr Fehmida Mirza said the opposition members had infringed the sanctity of the House by surrounding the dais of the speaker. She said those claiming themselves to be proponents of democratic norms should respect the office of the speaker.
She said the process of accountability would go ahead, adding the democratic system and the Parliament would also function.
The minister said that given the situation on the borders and propaganda campaign by India, it was time that the Parliament sent a strong and united message to India. She said it was for the first time that there were positive vibes for the country and investment was coming to the country. She urged the opposition parties to shun negative course and play a positive role to fully reap the dividends of the investment.