News
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Shaikh’s statement on RGST bribe sparks controversy
* Faisal seeks apology from finance minister
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh’s statement alleging that politicians took bribe to oppose the reformed general sales tax (RGST) sparked a controversy in the National Assembly prompting PML-Q parliamentary leader Faisal Saleh Hayat to demand an “apology” from him.
Addressing the Lower House on the first day of 28th session on Monday, the PML-Q leader and former interior minister deplored the statement and said his party and some others had opposed the RGST, therefore, it was a direct allegation against them.
“I am not a commodity on sale,” said the emotional Faisal while declaring his party would continue to oppose the RGST.
“The finance minister has breached not only my privilege but that of the entire House,” said Faisal. The finance minister should come and tender an apology to the members of the National Assembly and Senate, he demanded.
Earlier, the finance minister was quoted as saying, “Interest groups had bribed politicians to oppose the RGST, which is vital for the country’s economy.” He had said that some elements used politicians and financed them to oppose the tax in the lower and upper houses. Those people were afraid of documentation that would bring them into the tax net, he added.
Faisal said the finance minister was a responsible person but he has not challenged the publication of the news item, which implied that he actually meant what he said.
Meanwhile, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Syed Naveed Qamar told the House that there was a ban on setting up new CNG stations in the country. However, he was not sure if the policy was being followed or not as he said, “I cannot say if OGRA was issuing licences in back dates.”
Responding to a question, Naveed said Kunnar, Pasakhi Deep Tando Allah Yar and Sinjhoro gas fields would start production soon and the estimated accumulative production from both these fields would be 315 million cubic feet (MMCFD) per day which would also help bridge the gap between the demand and supply.
He said average domestic gas production was about 4,200 mmcfd and supply from the fields would add about 7.5 percent gas to the national network. Responding to several supplementary questions, particularly from PML-N members over the issue of gas supply, Naveed referred to Article 158 and said two provinces had invoked the provision inserted in the constitution in 1973 through court orders that asked for uninterrupted supply of gas. The government had to go along with court orders, he added.
Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had got rulings from their respective high courts against the gas load shedding, he continued.
Article 158 reads, “The province in which a well head of natural gas is situated shall have precedence over other parts of Pakistan in meeting the requirements from the well head, subject to the commitments and obligations as on the commencing day.”
The PML-N members had said that the load shedding was increasing unemployment as industries were facing closure in the province on the one hand and was adversely affecting the domestic consumer on the other.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk