Upper house: Anti-privatisation walkout in Senate

Blames govt for handing state entities to cronies.

ISLAMABAD:

Opposition parties in Senate staged a walkout against the proposed privatisation of key state entities, accusing the government of handing over country’s national assets to ‘cronies and foreigners’.

Led by Pakistan Peoples Party Senator Raza Rabbani, the opposition senators returned to the parliament’s upper house after staging a brief walkout.

“Once again the government wants to give birth to the 22 families with its privatisation policy,” said Rabbani.

Censuring the government Rabbani said, Pakistan’s strategic assets including Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), OGDCL and others are being awarded to ‘cronie capitalists’.

Rabbani asserted that his party would resist laying off PSM workers. “4,000 workers would be laid off, the Steel Mills would be declared free of workers’ union rules and certain departments would be outsourced,” the senator added claiming he had the official documents containing government’s suggestions.



However, vowing to oppose the process he said, “PPP has always been against the contract system and we would not let this system to be established in the PSM.”

Terming it unconstitutional he added that privatisation without Council of Common Interest’s (CCI’s) approval would not be allowed.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said, “It was during the PPP’s term in office that one of the PSM’s chairmen purchased overpriced spare parts for the mill.” He said all those criticising the government’s policies have been part of the previous government that failed to provide a solution for the ailing state entity.

Blaming PPP leadership for the energy crisis, Abbasi said the PPP-led government’s failure to initiate new projects to enhance gas production has caused the current shortage.

Later, Senator Rabbani moved the house foreign policy with reference to PM’s recent visit to Washington, repercussions of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, peace talks with Taliban and other such issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2013.