NA session: Opposition may turn to court over petroleum levy
Khursheed Shah criticises PML-N’s ‘poor energy policy’ and ‘legislative methodology’.
Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Opposition parties in the lower house of parliament came down hard on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over its ‘poor energy policy’ and ‘controversial legislative methodology’ on Monday after it tabled two resolutions for extension of ordinances on the electoral system.
Opposition leader Khursheed Shah warned that his party could take the government to court over its controversial decision to impose 27% sales tax on petroleum products besides 10% to 15% levy.
“It is strange that this important matter was not brought before parliament for debate,” he said. If the government pays no heed to our warning, then we have no other option but to approach the court, a practice adopted by the PML-N during the previous Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) tenure on various issues.
All opposition parties backed Shah’s call and staged a token walkout from the proceedings. The lawmakers later returned to the house. “We will keep staging protests until the government is ready to give us a satisfactory response,” the opposition leader said.
“This is a sheer violation of Article 77 of the Constitution,” he said. There is no sign as to where the government has kept these billions of rupees accumulated through such taxation. This is a cruel and anti-public policy,” he added.
MQM leader Abdul Rasheed Godil pointed out that the ruling party’s manifesto itself promises to bring down sales tax. While pointing out that no senior minister or representative of the federal government was available on the front rows to give them audience, the opposition also refused to discuss the recent petroleum shortage and energy crisis issue.
Khursheed Shah interrupted his party colleague Naveed Qamar when he explained that the main purpose of the session was to hold a debate on the petroleum shortage and energy crisis. Shah said that empty chairs do not deserve to be addressed. Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, the minister for parliamentary affairs, tabled two resolutions to extend ordinances related to elections for another four months.
He pledged that bills on this subject would also be introduced with consensus of all parliamentary parties.
The opposition asked the government to withdraw these ordinances while the assembly was already in session on the requisition of the opposition to discuss energy crisis and adopt a normal parliamentary course to bring bills for legislation on the subject.
“Close down your ordinances’ factory,” former speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza demanded. “If we get a chance of democratic transition then it is a better option to make parliament strong.” She also questioned that weak performance of the ruling party during the last two years.
Naveed Qamar said, “This is unfortunate omen that despite having overwhelming majority the N-League bulldozed the parliament through ordinances.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.
Opposition parties in the lower house of parliament came down hard on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over its ‘poor energy policy’ and ‘controversial legislative methodology’ on Monday after it tabled two resolutions for extension of ordinances on the electoral system.
Opposition leader Khursheed Shah warned that his party could take the government to court over its controversial decision to impose 27% sales tax on petroleum products besides 10% to 15% levy.
“It is strange that this important matter was not brought before parliament for debate,” he said. If the government pays no heed to our warning, then we have no other option but to approach the court, a practice adopted by the PML-N during the previous Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) tenure on various issues.
All opposition parties backed Shah’s call and staged a token walkout from the proceedings. The lawmakers later returned to the house. “We will keep staging protests until the government is ready to give us a satisfactory response,” the opposition leader said.
“This is a sheer violation of Article 77 of the Constitution,” he said. There is no sign as to where the government has kept these billions of rupees accumulated through such taxation. This is a cruel and anti-public policy,” he added.
MQM leader Abdul Rasheed Godil pointed out that the ruling party’s manifesto itself promises to bring down sales tax. While pointing out that no senior minister or representative of the federal government was available on the front rows to give them audience, the opposition also refused to discuss the recent petroleum shortage and energy crisis issue.
Khursheed Shah interrupted his party colleague Naveed Qamar when he explained that the main purpose of the session was to hold a debate on the petroleum shortage and energy crisis. Shah said that empty chairs do not deserve to be addressed. Sheikh Aftab Ahmad, the minister for parliamentary affairs, tabled two resolutions to extend ordinances related to elections for another four months.
He pledged that bills on this subject would also be introduced with consensus of all parliamentary parties.
The opposition asked the government to withdraw these ordinances while the assembly was already in session on the requisition of the opposition to discuss energy crisis and adopt a normal parliamentary course to bring bills for legislation on the subject.
“Close down your ordinances’ factory,” former speaker Dr Fahmida Mirza demanded. “If we get a chance of democratic transition then it is a better option to make parliament strong.” She also questioned that weak performance of the ruling party during the last two years.
Naveed Qamar said, “This is unfortunate omen that despite having overwhelming majority the N-League bulldozed the parliament through ordinances.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.