News
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Opposition walks out of Senate against hike in fuel prices* Senators say raise in petroleum prices a blow to already overburdened people
* Demand immediate steps to improve law and order situation in Balochistan
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Opposition parties in the Senate on Friday walked out in protest against latest hike in the prices of the petroleum products when Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani arrived in the House.
However, the Opposition ended their boycott on the pursuance of Leader of the House in Senate, Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari.
Speaking on a point of order, JI’s Senator Professor Ibrahim Khan said that the raise in petroleum prices would be a blow to the already overburdened people. He said that government’s claim that the increase is made to meet the budget deficit is devoid of substance. The government is always quick to increase the domestic prices on the pretext that international prices have gone up, but no cut is made in local prices when global prices come down, the senator added.
JUI-F’s Senator Ismael Buledi said that government has dropped the ‘petrol bomb’ on the people at a time when many of them are committing suicides due to hard economic conditions. MQM’s Shirla Malik said that his party had forced the government to take back 50 percent of the price increase when it last time upped the petroleum prices. The senator demanded the government review the latest increase as well provide relief to the people.
Senator Hasil Bazinjo expressed his concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Baolchistan and informed the House that 180 mutilated bodies have been recovered in the last four months. He deplored the ‘apathy’ of the government as well as parliament to the worsening situation in the province, and pointed to the ‘dangerous phenomenon’ of killing of the youth, particularly the students.
Dr Buledi complained about the ‘excesses’ committed by FC against the people of Balochistan and demanded that a jirga or all-parties conference should be convened on the crisis in Balochistan. Haji Lashkari Raisani said that apart from precarious security situation, Balochistan is facing chronic power shortage. He suggested that government should waive tax on alternate energy equipment in Balochistan so that more power could be generated through non-conventional sources.
Senator Ghaffar Querashi demanded that Pakistan Cricket Board should be taken to task for poor performance of the national team in World Cup semi-final match with India. ANP’s Zahid Khan said that ANP would not take part in the debate on any issue because of the attitude of Senate Chairman Farooq Naik, who, he said, was not giving adequate time to his party’s legislators in the House.
Upper House unanimously adopted Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Bill to implement international convention on the settlement of investment disputes between states and nationals of other states. The Senate also unanimously passed the Code of Criminal Procedure (amendment) Bill 2010.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk