Chaos in NA over Omar Ayub’s remarks against Zardari

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly session was adjourned on Wednesday after Pakistan Peoples Party lawmakers created chaos in the house over Energy Minister Omar Ayub Khan’s remarks that corruption was in the genetic makeup of the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

In a speech laden with criticism, the minister said there was an unprecedented price hike during the tenure of the PPP, and in an apparent reference to former president Asif Ali Zardari he called him “Mr 10 per cent” in his speech.

The PPP took exception to the comments and asked Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri to ask the minister to refrain from making such comments. However, when Ayub continued his tirade against the opposition, the PPP lawmakers led by Agha Rafiullah surrounded the energy minister and started tearing copies of the agenda prompting treasury members to step in to prevent an altercation.

While Ayub and Rafiullah engaged in a verbal clash the treasury members, including Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar and Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry stepped in to pacify the PPP lawmakers.

During his speech, Ayub said the opposition continued to cry crocodile tears but were forgetting about the ground realities during their tenures. Referring to the current situation, Ayub said the PML-N had also pointed fingers at the government for the current deteriorating economic situation.

“They talk about different things but when it comes to figures [...] in five years there was a 101 per cent increase in the circulation of currency notes during the PML-N government. What Hafeez Shaikh had said previously they ran the rupee into the ground… Miftah Ismail (former finance minister) started it and we had to face the consequences,” he alleged.

“They are scared because the PTI government is moving towards success. We will overcome the obstacles they have left behind. Their workers themselves are coming to us asking how to join the party as their leaders are missing in action,” he said. “The policies drafted by the previous governments are like a noose around our neck,” he added.