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| December 9, 2005 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 6, 1426 |
Protests against speaker hit NA proceedings
ISLAMABAD, Dec 8: The combined opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday twice staged walkout and informed Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain that the house lacked quorum, delaying the proceedings by half an hour. On Wednesday, the opposition lawmakers had staged a demonstration outside the Parliament House to protest against what they called partial attitude of the speaker who did not allow them to speak on national issues.
First, it was Nawab Yousuf Talpur of PPP Parliamentarians who left his seat when the speaker stopped him from taking floor while Tehmina Daultana of the PML-N went out a second time to register her protest against the chair’s attitude.
Treasury member M.P. Bhandara urged the chair to run the house strictly in accordance with rules’ instead of allowing (opposition) lawmakers to make lengthy speeches on points of order.
Mr Talpur came back to the house and pointed out a lack of quorum, leading the speaker to adjourn the proceedings till the completion of quorum.
Later, referring to the government’s criticism, the PPP MNA said: “It is the right of the opposition to point out lack of quorum and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure it.”
The house received three motions, on fornication and presentation of the standing committee report on the Post Office (Amendment) Bill 2005, standing committee report on a question of privileges raised by Nisar Panhwar and another report on a privilege motion raised by Sardar Salimjan Mazari.
The house took up a call-attention notice, the last item on the 14-point agenda, but skipped the tabling of two important draft laws – a bill to provide for the establishment of the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan 2005 and another to establish the Alternative Energy Development Board.
The legislators from Sindh on a calling attention notice agitated against what they termed zoning by sugar mills to deprive farmers of their rightful price and outstanding dues against mills.
The parliamentary secretary of the ministry of food and agriculture assured the house that the government was taking appropriate action against the illegal practice.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan of the PML-N called for a full-fledged debate on the issue of fuel price hike despite their fall in the international market. He regretted that adjournment motions sought to be moved by opposition were not being put on legislative business to benefit oil companies and other vested interests.
He said if oil prices in the international market had dropped by 20 per cent its benefit should have been shifted to the common consumer.
Petroleum Minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon said there was no fraud committed in price fixation. He said the government had borne a Rs70 billion loss while providing subsidy to offset the impact of increasing oil prices in the international market.
The speaker reserved his ruling on a point of order raised by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani who accused the government of violating rules by not presenting in the house periodical reports of the Council of Islamic Ideology nor was changing the law in accordance with its recommendations.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri’s question of privilege against the post master-general was upheld by the government.
The minister for parliamentary affairs agreed that the post master-general had breached the privilege of the member and the house.
Maulana Haideri complained that he was denied an audience by the post master-general on the pretext that he was away from the office although he was present and having tea with his friends.
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