Fuelling crisis: Opposition requisitions NA session over petrol fiasco
Says the petrol shortage reflects the inefficiency of the government
Says the petrol shortage reflects the inefficiency of the government. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
Lawmakers from opposition parties have submitted a requisition in National Assembly Secretariat to immediately call lower house of parliament’s session to discuss the nationwide petrol crisis. The requisition, bearing signatures of 95 MPs, was submitted on Tuesday.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and independent members have signed the requisition.
The requisition says a session of the National Assembly should be convened immediately in view of the current petrol crisis, “so that appropriate measures could be taken to address the problems of the people”.
“The petrol shortage in the country reflects the inefficiency of the government,” it says while holding ministries of petroleum, water and power and finance particularly responsible for it.
It also demands that the ministries explain the ratio at which petrol prices were cut in the country in the wake of reduction in international oil prices.
As per legal experts, the government is bound to call an NA session within the next 14 days, starting from the day a requisition is submitted.
Meanwhile, the PPP leaders rejected an internal inquiry report, which held Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra) responsible for the crisis.
Addressing a press conference, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah urged the government to conduct an inquiry into the crisis through an apex court judge.
He said there are many questions which need to be answered.
“What are the causes of this crisis? When this crisis will be resolved? Why Ogra did not maintain a minimum quantity of petrol? When payments will be made to Pakistan State Oil for purchase of petrol?
Shah was of the opinion that lack of coordination between Sharif brothers and their aides was the main cause of the predicament and said he will also take up the issue at Public Accounts Committee.
“We had informed National Assembly about the crisis last Wednesday,” Shah said.
He said those who once claimed to solve the energy crisis have instead made the petrol disappear. He said the country was suffering losses to the tune of billions of rupees due to the shortage of petrol.
He also criticised extension of levy on gas despite opposition’s concerns.
Earlier, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira said the prime minister was responsible for this crisis and it was not possible for subordinate bureaucracy to investigate the bigwigs.
“Privatisation of government institutions is not in the interest of the country,” Kaira said. “The PPP has always opposed privatisation and raised voice for the rights of labourers, while the PML-N always destroys organisations,” he said.
The PPP’s former finance minister and Senator Salim Mandviwala told The Express Tribune that it was the failure of the ruling party, as the PSO has 70 per cent control over petrol import and no one can call this crisis a conspiracy of other oil marketing companies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
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Lawmakers from opposition parties have submitted a requisition in National Assembly Secretariat to immediately call lower house of parliament’s session to discuss the nationwide petrol crisis. The requisition, bearing signatures of 95 MPs, was submitted on Tuesday.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and independent members have signed the requisition.
The requisition says a session of the National Assembly should be convened immediately in view of the current petrol crisis, “so that appropriate measures could be taken to address the problems of the people”.
“The petrol shortage in the country reflects the inefficiency of the government,” it says while holding ministries of petroleum, water and power and finance particularly responsible for it.
It also demands that the ministries explain the ratio at which petrol prices were cut in the country in the wake of reduction in international oil prices.
As per legal experts, the government is bound to call an NA session within the next 14 days, starting from the day a requisition is submitted.
Meanwhile, the PPP leaders rejected an internal inquiry report, which held Oil and Gas Regularity Authority (Ogra) responsible for the crisis.
Addressing a press conference, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah urged the government to conduct an inquiry into the crisis through an apex court judge.
He said there are many questions which need to be answered.
“What are the causes of this crisis? When this crisis will be resolved? Why Ogra did not maintain a minimum quantity of petrol? When payments will be made to Pakistan State Oil for purchase of petrol?
Shah was of the opinion that lack of coordination between Sharif brothers and their aides was the main cause of the predicament and said he will also take up the issue at Public Accounts Committee.
“We had informed National Assembly about the crisis last Wednesday,” Shah said.
He said those who once claimed to solve the energy crisis have instead made the petrol disappear. He said the country was suffering losses to the tune of billions of rupees due to the shortage of petrol.
He also criticised extension of levy on gas despite opposition’s concerns.
Earlier, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira said the prime minister was responsible for this crisis and it was not possible for subordinate bureaucracy to investigate the bigwigs.
“Privatisation of government institutions is not in the interest of the country,” Kaira said. “The PPP has always opposed privatisation and raised voice for the rights of labourers, while the PML-N always destroys organisations,” he said.
The PPP’s former finance minister and Senator Salim Mandviwala told The Express Tribune that it was the failure of the ruling party, as the PSO has 70 per cent control over petrol import and no one can call this crisis a conspiracy of other oil marketing companies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
Poll
[poll id="1408"]