ISLAMABAD – In an uncharacteristic outburst, perhaps reflective of the recent rise in tensions between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the latter’s deadline to implement economic reforms, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday sharply rebuked PML-N National Assembly Member (MNA) Abid Sher Ali for accusing the government of not ensuring a steady supply of natural gas to industrial units in Punjab.
“I think this is a very sensitive but old issue and the MNA has raised it very late. He should have raised it much earlier. He is also ignorant of the fact that gas and electricity management are on the agenda of the ongoing talks between the PML-N and PPP,” Gilani said. The PM said that he himself belonged to Punjab and the notion that his government was negligent of the province’s needs was untrue.
He said that the government was aware of the issue but was bound by certain judicial and constitutional obligations. “Courts have issued stay orders against the provision of gas to other areas until the needs of the host areas have been met. Moreover, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also raised this issue [previously]. We offered to place the matter before the Council of Common Interests and if it is not resolved there, then the issue will be taken up in the joint session of parliament,” Gilani said.
