Issue production orders, or face protests, Marri tells Qaiser

Deputy speaker says orders will be issued when the speaker deems it necessary

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party leader Shazia Marri has demanded of the National Assembly speaker to issue production orders for PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and others, saying that protests will be held if the demand is not met.

However, NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that orders will be issued when the speaker deemed it necessary.

The development took place during the NA session, chaired by Speaker Asad Qaiser, on Monday.

During the session, treasury member Noor Alam Khan fired a broadside at the government. He said, “Nobody talks about the poor farmers in the country. I curse the ones who do not talk about poverty. If someone asks us to keep quiet, I swear we won’t,” said Alam. He even went as far as saying that he would sacrifice 10 such seats for the benefit of the farmers. He demanded calling the finance minister to give a clarification over the matter.

During the question hour, Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed informed the house that during the current financial year, the railways income increased by Rs4.94 billion which was Rs40 billion in financial year 2016-17.

In 2017-18, the railways income was Rs49.57 billion, while it increased to Rs54.51 billion in 2018-19, said the railways minister, adding that during August 2018 to June 2019, 74 accidents occurred, causing a loss of Rs127.1 million.

The minister informed that 138 trains were running.

He said, “Up to 3.7 million litres petrol has been saved and four trains have been started in Sindh, the credit for which to Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

He said the ML-I will start from Sindh.

The bogeys that had been burnt in the aftermath of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination “have been repaired and named Benazir Shaheed”, said Rashid.

He said as no railway lines were even touched after the British rule, new lines would be laid during the PTI government’s tenure.

Parliamentary Secretary Railways Farrukh Habib informed the house that salaries and pensions of the railways employees had been increased and railways expenditures decreased.

“The Faisalabad Railway Station depicts the image of a haunted house and its renovation is under way,” said Rashid, adding that the railways was being put on the path of progress.

He said, “There is no compensation if a person dies while crossing the railway lines, but passengers who suffer injuries or even die while travelling get compensation.”

Minister for Communications Murad Saeed criticised the PPP for chanting slogans against the NA speaker while the president was delivering his speech during the joint session.

Treasury member Noor Alam Khan asked the speaker to give a chance to the back benches to speak, saying that they had not come to listen to the front benches.

He said prices of electricity, gas and petrol had been increased tremendously, while that of sugar and roti had also been jacked up.

Later, the session was adjourned till 10am on Tuesday (today).