MPs demands reduction in food, fuel prices

JI, PTI stage walkout in protest against alleged rigging in Karachi mayoral elections

ISLAMABAD:

 

The upper house of the parliament on Thursday discussed the proposed federal budget for 2023-24 as some lawmakers demanded that the government take measures to reduce the prices of food products, fuel and transportation.

When the Senate resumed its session, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed, who belongs to Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) tried to raise the issue of alleged rigging in mayoral election in Karachi but Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani did not allow him to take the floor.

Later, the JI and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers staged a walkout in protest.

On Thursday, for the first time in Pakistan's history, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) managed to get its mayor elected in the country’s provincial hub.

The JI, whose mayoral candidate Hafiz Naeem was regarded as favorite in several opinion polls, cried foul, accusing the PPP of using state machinery to stop the PTI members from voting in favor of Naeem.

Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, who belongs to the PPP, launched a verbal attack on PTI Chairman Imran Khan. “The events of May 9 have proven that the PTI chief is a terrorist. He is also a leader of terrorists,” he said amid a loud protest by the PTI senators.

On May 9, violent protesters allegedly belonging to the PTI vandalized and set fire to civil and military installations and memorials after the arrest of the PTI chief from the premises of the federal capital's high court. Dozens of the alleged rioters are now facing trials in military courts.

Referring to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), PPP’s Raza Rabbani said it is the first time in the country’s history that “a colonial financial institution” is overseeing our budget-making.

“Various policies have been introduced on the demand of the IMF. These policies will adversely affect the laborers, farmers and factory workers and textile and steel mills may shut down within a week of the implementation of these policies,” he said.

He said these policies will result in mass unemployment, adding that he will draw the finance minister’s attention to the adverse effects of the proposed policies.
Senator Danesh Kumar of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) said recommendations of the Senate are thrown into the trash bin by the Planning Division.

He said the country’s future has been put at stake by seeking loans from international financial institutions. He also criticized the government for reducing the defence budget by 20%. Kumar demanded that salaries of armed forces personnel be increased.

Senator Saifullah Abro, who belongs to the PTI, quipped that Cyclone Biparjoy was supposed to hit Karachi on Thursday but it changed its direction when it saw  the treatment meted out to the JI’s mayoral candidate, Hafiz Naeem.

Senator Hidayat Ullah commended the proposed budget, saying that the government had presented a good budget despite financial difficulties. He, however, demanded that the government reduce prices of essential commodities, particularly food and transportation.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) should be provided free electricity up to 200 units. The fares of public transport should be reduced,” he said.