Two parties stage token walkout from lower house of parliament. STOCK IMAGE
Soon after the Q&A session, Shazia Marri of PPP and MQM’s MNA Abdul Wasim warned that the federal government’s move to take back 650MW from K-Electric on different pretexts would plunge parts of Karachi into darkness.
Lawmakers of the two parties staged a token walkout from the house on the issue. They only returned to the house after much coaxing from Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir.
“We strongly protest and walk out of the house against the government’s decision to take back the 650MW electricity from K-electric,” said Shazia Marri, warning that the decision would have serious economic and social implications.
MQM’s lawmaker Abdul Wasim said, “If you give Karachi extra electricity then it also contributes you 70% of the total national revenue.”
The decision would have a multi-pronged effect on the 20 million people living in the metropolis, he insisted.
Criticising national carrier
One of the key cabinet members Khawaja Saad Rafique lambasted the management of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for providing poor services to passengers.
Many lawmakers also raised questions over the substandard services being rendered by the national carrier.
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that they have also received bulk of complaints against the inefficient management of PIA and suggested the chair refer the issue to the standing committee and also asked the members to attend the meeting to discuss the issue.
Later, the deputy speaker referred the issue to the concerned committee for further action.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2015.
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