News
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Opp, coalition partners reject POL price hike* PML-N, PML-Q, MQM stage walkout in National Assembly, demand immediate withdrawal of increase in petroleum products
* MQM’s Haider Abbas Rizvi says government should bring industrial, agricultural and other sectors in tax net
By Zeeshan Javaid
ISLAMABAD: Coalition partner of the Pakistan People’s Party-led government, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), and two major political rivals, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), on Tuesday staged a token walkout from the National Assembly in protest over the 9.9 percent hike in prices of petroleum products.
Lawmakers from opposition benches along with members of the MQM categorically rejected the move and demanded the ruling PPP to withdraw its decision. They were of the view that the recent hike in oil prices would further push up the already soaring prices of essential items and transport fares in the country.
The decision to increase POL products’ prices was taken on Monday at a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who, after right-sizing the federal cabinet, is also holding the portfolio of petroleum minister.
Speaking on the floor of the House, MQM’s deputy parliamentary leader, Haider Abbas Rizvi, complained that the government did not consult the parliamentary committee constituted by the prime minister on petroleum prices before implementation of new fuel rates. Referring to the move adopted by the MQM against the soaring oil prices in the past, the MQM leader warned that his party would be compelled to review its future strategy if the decision was not withdrawn within three days. He proposed that instead of imposing indirect tax on the masses, the government should bring industrial, agricultural and other sectors under the tax net so that the burden of price hike might not affect the poor. He added that inflated oil prices would directly burden those living below the poverty line and those belonging to the middle class.
Khawaja Saad Rafique of the PML-N, while terming the decision of the PPP government as an injustice and an iniquitous move of the rulers, asked the government for an immediate reversal of the increase in oil prices. He claimed that the people had been disillusioned by the current democratic system and policies of the incumbent federal government.
The PML-N leader also accused the government of following directives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) instead of parliament.
Saying that unemployment was increasing with each passing day due to load shedding of gas and closure of industries, he feared that the price hike of petroleum products would further aggravate the situation.
Another lawmaker from the PML-N, Aftab Sheikh, urged the government to reconsider its move in addition to promoting good governance for strengthening important state-owned institutions like the Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Railways and Pakistan Steel Mills.
PML-Q lawmaker and National Assembly Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources Chairman, Waqas Akram Sheikh, also endorsed the views of the PML-N and MQM. He was of the view that the increased prices of POL products, one way or the other, would affect prices of every commodity. He suggested to the government to broaden its tax net and bring the rich in it.
Marvi Memon of the PML-Q also supported decrease in petroleum prices and called for a cut in non-developmental expenditures of the government.
A parliamentarian of the Awami National Party (ANP), Bushra Gohar, termed the price hike as unjustified and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Later on, the three major parties staged a token walkout from the National Assembly to record their protest.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk