LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday turned down a resolution against the massive increase in gas tariff moved by the opposition leader amid sloganeering for and against the move.

The opposition led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was left shocked, when Law Minister Rana Sanaullah defended the hike in gas tariff, blaming its leader Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed for failing to comprehend the facts and rationale for the increase.

Following a fiery speech by the opposition leader, the law minister said he had sought details about the heads of tariff increase from the federal government department concerned but could not get it, asking the opposition to wait for another day to present the resolution.

However, the opposition leader insisted that he had already delayed the resolution for a day and could not wait more. Irked by his insistence, the law minister said the treasury would oppose the resolution if presented.

Undeterred by the statement, Mr Rasheed sought suspension of rules of business to present the resolution demanding the federal government should withdraw the increase in gas tariff.

Law minister immediately opposed the suspension of rules. Upon voting on the instruction of acting Speaker Sher Ali Gorchani, the opposition’s resolution was rejected by a majority vote.

Later, a senior PTI member told this reporter that Mr Rasheed had shown undue haste and got a very important public interest resolution rejected.

As soon as the House completed its government business, the opposition leader warned that the gas tariff increase would open the floodgate of price-hike, further burdening the masses. He sought withdrawal of the 63 percent tariff increase for industry and 13pc for household consumers.

“This is a very important people’s rights issue and a resolution demanding withdrawal of tariff increase should be passed and sent to the federal government. Otherwise, masses will suffer beyond their capacity,” he stressed.

Rana Sanaullah said the House should first know the facts of tariff increase before passing any resolution.

Elaborating, he said, the fertiliser industry was consuming gas on 63pc subsidised rates but was not passing on the benefit to the farmers and added that the tariff increase was a good decision by the federal government which should have been taken earlier. He also said that the domestic consumers would be facing 10pc-13pct tariff hike.

At this, the opposition leader flared-up and regretted that the law minister was defending the tariff increase while the whole nation was against it. He said the increase in gas rates would surely affect the farmers and ultimately the poor. He stated that the petrol prices were at their lowest in the world but the PML-N government cut these by just Rs3 per litre.

After rejection of resolution, by a majority vote in the House, the opposition leader said it was the blackest day in the history of Punjab Assembly as the treasury decided to deny public its due rights.

The opposition members resorted to sloganeering; “Stop economic murder of the masses”and “Withdraw increase in gas tariff”. They also termed the treasury benches “Jewish lobby”, while the treasury responded by calling the opposition “Indian lobby”.

Earlier, the House unanimously agreed to bring a bill on Thursday (today) about the increase in salaries of the MPAs and the assembly staff. The law minister said the salaries as well as perks and privileges of the Punjab Assembly members and its staff were the lowest among all the houses -- National Assembly and the three provincial assemblies -- in the country.

Parliamentary leaders of all parties, including the opposition leader, endorsed the demand for increase in salaries.

GOVT BUSINESS: The House with a majority vote extended the term of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority Ordinance 2015, promulgated on July 7, 2015, for a further period of 90 days with effect from October 5, 2015.

The House also approved a similar extension of the Punjab Forest (Amendment) Ordinance 2015, promulgated on July 17, 2015.

The law minister also laid in the House the special audit report by the Auditor-General of Pakistan on the Accounts of Sargodha Improvement Trust, Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department, Punjab, for the year 2009-2010 as well as the audit report on Widening/Improvement of Road from Bunga Hayat-Pakpattan-Arifwala, Communication and Works Department, Punjab, for audit year 2011-2012.

QUESTION HOUR: As the Punjab Assembly opened Question Hour about School Education Department for one-and-a-half hours late, it was interrupted by PML-N’s Mian Tariq Mahmood who pointed out that the department secretary was not present in the House despite Speaker’s ruling to this effect.

As education minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan tried to defend schools secretary Abdul Jabbar Shaheen saying he was busy in an important meeting, Mr Mehmood retorted that assembly proceedings were more important. The minister also expressed his ignorance about Speaker’s ruling that the secretary should be present in the House.

The Speaker suspended the session for 15 minutes, with the direction that the secretary’s presence should be ensured. The House resumed its proceedings as the secretary arrived there.

All the 35 questions listed in the Question Hour were submitted in 2013. Minister Rana Mashhood responded to the supplementary questions by the members and explained Punjab government’s stance.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

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