13 February 2005	Sunday	03 Muharram 1426

ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: Leader of the Opposition in Senate Raza Rabbani has criticized the government's refusal to allow a debate on the increase in prices of petroleum products, gas, electricity and other items.

The opposition leader, in a statement, said minister of state for finance had agreed on the debate on the floor of the House. But when a motion for the debate was brought by the opposition, the government backed out, he added.

This step, Mr Rabbani said, had exposed the fact that the government's decision regarding the increase in prices was not a rational one, adding that it feared that its hollow economic policy would be exposed on the floor of the house.

He said this step further reinforced the fact that this was a government that protected the interests of big businesses and the multi-nationals at the cost of the common man.

Price-hike is the major issue of Pakistani people and if the Senate can not debate this matter than it has no right to exist, he added.

"The anti-people policy of this government has crushed the common man economically while a cartel of big business reaps heavy profits and multi-nationals are allowed to transfer Pakistan's wealth abroad at the cost of the middle class, lower middle class and working class.

"The opposition will resist forceful through parliamentary practices this move of the government when the house meets on Monday," Mr Rabbani said.