Rabbani says current rate is ‘highest petrol price in Pakistan’s history’
Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Opposition lawmakers in both Houses of parliament on Friday strongly protested against the increase in petrol prices calling for its immediate withdrawal.
They slammed the government for dropping a “petrol bomb” on the masses in times of extreme inflation saying that it would compell people to come to streets.
The members of the National Assembly staged a robust protest demanding the government to take back its decision of raising the POL prices.
When PML-N leader and former defence minister Khawaja Asif announced a walkout from the house, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri adjourned the house for an indefinite time.
Opposition members censured the government for being insensitive to rampant dearness.
They said people were already hard-pressed by the rising inflation. With the increase in petrol prices, prices of all other things would go up, they maintained.
The opposition MPs deplored that the government after hiking POL prices, was all set to raise the power tariff that would unleash another wave of inflation in the country.
They said New Pakistan had become a nightmare. They wondered why rulers were doing this injustice to people.
When the question-answer session in national assembly was started, the opposition launched a forceful protest flaying government over the petrol price hike.
They raised slogans saying “Hike in petrol prices unacceptable”, and “Withdraw POL price increase notice”,
The opposition members were holding placards which were inscribed with different kinds of slogans like “Costly petrol” and “Thief Prime Minister”.
Meanwhile, PML-N leader Khawaja Asif chipped in pointing out since ministers were not present during the question-answer session, it was a disgrace to the house. With this, he announced to stage a walkout from the house.
On this, PTI MNA Ali Muhammad Khan said that everyday opposition pointed out the quorum.
On this, the deputy speaker adjourned the house indefinitely. After the NA session, the opposition also staged a protest outside the assembly building.
On the other hand, in Senate the opposition legislators also staged a walkout asking Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin to attend the Senate session and respond to senators questions regarding increase in POL prices and others.
PPP leader Mian Raza Rabbani regretted that parliament work was done through ordinances.
He said when the opposition ask about price hike, POL prices, the finance minister disappears and even the foreign minister also don’t bother to take parliament into confidence over Afghanistan and other issues.
Poor people were scrambling from massive price hike but regretted that it was not on the radar of finance minister.
Rabbani said that the people were “bombed” with an increase in petrol prices twice in 15 days. He said the current rate is the “highest petrol price in Pakistan’s history”.
JI Senator Mushtaq said that people are being compelled to commit suicide. “People are crying, while the government has no mercy on them. We condemn these actions of government.” He warned the government that people would have no choice but to move towards parliament.
