Opposition united against PIA privatisation

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition has decided to take a unified stand on the finalisation of the amendment draft of the controversial Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) bill ahead of bipartisan meeting to be held today.

On Tuesday, three members from opposition parties — Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf — had an informal meeting at the residence of the member of the National Assembly and the joint committee Syed Naveed Qamar. PPP’s senator Saeed Ghani and MQM’s Farooq Sattar met to finalise the recommendations, while PTI’s Asad Umer was in contact through the phone.

“We have taken a unified stand against the proposed privatisation of the PIA bill and see how the government responds to it,” said Qamar.

The bill has been a bone of contention between the government and the opposition. The opposition had forced the government on March 22 to defer the passage of the bills for three weeks. Meanwhile, a 10-member bipartisan body was formed to sort out the differences. The joint sitting of parliament is slated for April 11 where the bill would be presented for the passage.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had assured the opposition on March 29 that the government had no intention to hand over the management of the PIA to shareholders, but it only wants to help the national flag carrier back on its wings again.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2016.