04 February 2005	Friday	24 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 3: The Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) members have submitted an adjournment motion to the National Assembly Secretariat to discuss the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products.

The motion, moved under Rule 92 of the Rules and Procedure for Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 1992, has been signed by nine members of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

The motion states: "The Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) and oil marketing companies have increased the prices of petroleum products, including petrol and diesel, by Rs2 and 95 paisa, respectively, from February 2.

The increase in petrol prices has become a "petrol bomb" for the general public. The people of Pakistan are stunned as they are already under pressure of the high prices of other consumable items.

This recent raise in the prices will naturally increase the prices of other consumable items. This decision has caused a grave concern amongst the general public specially those in the low-paid income group. The issue needs discussion on the floor of the house adjourning the normal business of the National Assembly."

The motion has been signed by Syed Naveed Qamar, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Sherry Rehman, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chaudhry Qamaruz Zaman Kaira of the PPP and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Mohammad Asif of the PML-N.

BALOCHISTAN ISSUE: Meanwhile, the ARD members on Thursday submitted another adjournment motion to the National Assembly Secretariat on Balochistan situation with reference to recent attacks on electricity transmission line.

The motion states: "A major electricity transmission line was blown up in Sibi district late on February 1 plunging about two-third of the Balochistan province into darkness which has been confirmed officially and according to the report some unknown saboteurs blew up two poles of 220KV main supply line near a grid station, about two kilometres from Sibi town.

It is a matter of grave concern that such activities are increasing day by day specially in the Balochistan province which proved that the government had failed to protect the national installations of the country."

The motion has been signed by Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and Ramesh Lal of the PPP and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N.

It may be mentioned that the opposition members, belonging to the ARD and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) had already submitted several motions on the issues of Balochistan and increase in oil prices. The opposition members are planning to raise the two issues in the National Assembly with full force.

The opposition members in the Senate on Wednesday staged a token walkout on the decision to increase the oil prices while the upper house at present is discussing the Balochistan situation.