National Assembly: POL price hike adds fuel to opposition’s fire

Govt stays mum over decision; proceedings end without any policy statement.

ISLAMABAD:

The government remained speechless in justifying the recent increase in prices of petroleum products in Wednesday’s session of the National Assembly, which resonated with calls for the immediate withdrawal of the decision.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took the lead in protesting against the hike while demanding explanations from the treasury benches. The main opposition party staged a token walkout and was joined by Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

However, no one from the government’s side dared to speak up over the reason behind its unpopular decision and the proceedings of first day of the 39th session ended without any policy statement.

“I appeal to the coalition partners of the government, if they truly represent the masses, to join us in the passage of a resolution for withdrawal of the increase in prices of petroleum products,” urged Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N.

Iqbal said that the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had proposed the government not to increase the prices yet it took the decision and shifted the burden of its ‘economic failures’ on the masses.

“Corruption, nepotism and incompetence of the government have manufactured the energy crisis in the country,” he added.

Chairman standing committee on petroleum and natural resources Sardar Talib Nakai from the PML-Q also condemned the government’s decision, while Bushra Gohar from the ANP asked for the constitution of a committee to resolve the matter.

Responding to a call-attention notice by the PML-N, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain refuted the claim that his ministry was sitting idle and not exploring new gas reserves.

The minister elaborated on several steps taken by the government to add more gas to the system and said that the situation would improve with local and imported gas.

Law and order in Balochistan

Advocate Usman Khan from Balochistan lamented the law and order situation of his province and said that there would be “no gas in Pakistan unless the issue of Balochistan is resolved”.

He condemned the killing of Nawabzada Bakhtiar Khan Domki’s wife and daughter in Karachi and urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the Balochistan issue.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik assured the house that the culprits behind the murder of Domki’s wife, who was also Brahmdagh Bugti’s sister, would be brought to justice.

The minister hinted at the involvement of a ‘neighbouring country’ in Balochistan and expressed readiness to give an in-camera briefing over the issue.

In response, Bushra Gohar of the ANP said: “If a neighbouring country is involved in Balochistan, what are our agencies doing?”

She also asked the minister who was ‘permitting’ banned outfits to hold rallies and processions in the country.

20th amendment Bill not moved

Meanwhile, the government deferred legislative business and did not move the 20th Amendment Bill aimed at giving legal cover to by-elections of over two dozen MPs.

The bill has been approved by the standing committee and its chairperson, Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry, presented the report before the house.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2012.