Uproar in PA over a ‘meagre’ cut in oil prices

LAHORE

Punjab Assembly on Monday witnessed uproar followed by the boycott of Opposition which rejected the Rs5 cut in petroleum prices while terming it a mockery with nation.

“The reduction of Rs5 in petroleum prices is nothing but a joke with nation while government itself is earning profit of Rs40 to 45 on every one litre, it should further bring down the prices to provide relief to the people” said Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed, Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly while speaking on a point of order after the question hour session. Opposition boycotted the proceedings after its leader wasn’t allowed to move an out-of-turn resolution over the issue.

He stated that the petroleum products prices were $28 per barrel at the international level and there was no use to reduce its rates by Rs5.

At the time when Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed was recording protest over petroleum prices, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan rejected his stance while saying that Opposition, like all other issues was only playing politics to gain mileage.

Criticising the role of the Opposition leader for misleading the House, Rana Sanaullah said that he had made tall claims to hold a debate on projects such as Orange Train but rather than mustering up the courage to face answers of his queries, he skipped the proceedings.

Similarly, he said the Opposition leader was working on the same plan to detract the nation and gain ‘media attention.’

He said that rather than attending the session, the Opposition would stage protest on the stairs of PA but it must not forget that projects like Orange Train were not meant to destroy Lahore but they would destroy PTI forever politically.

The Opposition leader also appealed to move a resolution out-of-turn over further decrease in petroleum prices but he wasn’t allowed after which Opposition MPAs boycotted the proceedings.

PA PASSES BILLS: PA on Monday passed two bills, including the Punjab Safe Cities Authority Bill 2015 and the Punjab Special Protecting Unit Bill 2015 amid boycott of Opposition.

Besides, three bills, including Punjab Public Representatives’ Law (Amendment) Bill 2016, Punjab Animals Slaughter Control (Amendment) Bill 2016, Punjab Private Education Commission Bill 2016 and Punjab Restriction of Employment of Children Bill 2016.

The Punjab Public Representatives’ Law (Amendment) Bill 2016 is related with the increase in the salary of MPAs but according to Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, there will be no increase in the salary of Chief Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Ministers, Advisers and Special Assistants under the bill. He stated that the monthly salary of legislators would be increased but despite that they would be paid less amount than paid to the members of the rest of the three provincial assemblies. The PA also laid 13 ordinances.

Kanwal Nauman, PML-N MPA elected on reserved seats was admitted to Jinnah Hospital after she suffered from a stroke on Monday. There were different rumours circulating in the PA circles regarding her health till the Speaker PA told the legislators that she was alive and a board of doctors had also been set up for her treatment. 

Till the filing of the report, Kanwal was under treatment in Jinnah Hospital. Kanwal, also a member of PML-N cultural wing, has also been a renowned TV actress of 80s and 90s. She has worked in different dramas such as Kiran, Red Card.

Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, an MPA elected from Chiniot on a point of order voiced serious concern over open preaching by Ahmedis in different parts of Punjab. He said that it was regretful that a ban was being imposed on our religious and Tableeghi groups but Ahmedis were enjoying a free hand to preach their ideas.