PHOTO: APP
The Sindh government also came under scathing criticism over flooding of major thoroughfares and streets due to monsoon rains that claimed at least 20 lives, the majority due to electrocution.
Meanwhile, members of the PPP protested against the lack of issuance of production orders of detained parliamentarians, with PPP Member National Assembly (MNA) Naveed Qamar observing that the speaker appeared to be under pressure not to issue the orders.
“There has been decrease in the prices of petroleum products in the international market but here people are being burdened with taxes,” said Qamar while addressing the lower house.
There was some chaotic scenes in the house on the issue of production order. “It seems pressure is being applied on the speaker to not issue the production order,” Qamar observed.
Refuting the claim, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who was presiding over the session, said that he would make decisions in accordance with the rules of the house.
During the question hour, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) member Shahida Rehmani said that the deaths in Karachi were the result of inefficiency of Karachi Electric (KE).
Upon this, Federal Minister for Power Omar Ayub said that accidental deaths due to electrocution took place where kundas (illegal connections) were installed. He also criticised the Sindh government for what he called was their failure to weed out corruption.
“PPP is the root of all problems in Sindh. The problems are not solved because the money goes to corruption,” said Ayub.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Alamgir Khan delivered a fiery speech in which he also lashed out at the Sindh government over his brief arrest on Sunday, when he was taken into custody after clashing with Pakistan Peoples Party workers outside the official of the provincial local government minister.
“I was not protesting against money laundering or corruption but against the lack of cleanliness,” said Khan.
He also brought to attention Karachi’s water woes, saying that the shortage of water in the mega city would create a multitude of problems in the future. “There will be brawls in Karachi in the future because of the lack of water there. The issue can cause riots. People in Karachi are facing serious problems.”
The session, which started over an hour later, last for a little over two and a half hours, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). It said that as many as 143 (42%) parliamentarians were present at the outset and 41 (12%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
Bills regarding the Maritime National Agency, food safety in Islamabad, Export Processing Zones Authority, cigarette warning and Pakistan Research Council for Water Resources were presented in the house.
Newly-elected MNA from Ghotki Muhammad Bakhsh Mehar took the oath of the assembly membership, which was administered by the deputy speaker.
Later, the session of was adjourned till 11am on Friday.
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