Opp, coalition parties protest against oil price hike, stage walkout

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Monday protested against the recent hike in oil prices, demanding its withdrawal and revival of a parliamentary committee binding the government to hold consultations prior to increasing prices. Speaking on a point of order, MQM’s Abdul Kadir Khanzada said petrol prices had been increased unjustifiably in recent months affecting the common man as well as the business community. He said a House committee was formed proposing that the body would be consulted prior to increasing the oil price hike but it had yet to play its role. Later, the MQM staged a walkout in protest against the government for not consulting with the parliamentary body before increasing the oil prices. PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal suggested the MQM dissociate itself from the government as a mere walking out of the House would not work. He said inflation had badly affected the growth rate. Demanding the withdrawal of the recent price hike, he said the farmers of South Punjab had been protesting against the doubling of electricity prices for tube wells. He reiterated his demands of withdrawing oil price hike, electricity charges for tube wells, exposing the elements indulged in extortion, targeted killings in Balochistan and later staged a walkout of the House in protest. PML’s Nausheen Saeed demanded immediate release of Rimsha, a Christian girl facing blasphemy charges in Islamabad after the conspiracy had been unveiled and sought exemplary punishment for the accuser for maligning the country. She said the word ‘minority’ should not be used rather the community be called as non-Muslims. In response, Naveed Qamar said the government had no control over international market and the local prices of oil, gold and other commodities went up and down in proportion to international prices. Later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik moved a motion to hold a debate on the law and order in the country, asking the chair to allow him in-camera briefing on the law and order and Rimsha case issues. Meanwhile, PML-N’s Saud Majeed pointed out no-quorum but the move was thwarted by the ruling party by managing required number of members in the House. Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah moved a motion to discuss the law and order. Pir Haider Ali Shah from FATA also walked out of the House against the oil price hike. MQM’s Wasim Akhtar said if the government had come to know about the conspiracy behind the Rimsha issue, why had the girl not been released. In response, Malik said an FIR had been registered against Rimsha so the course of law was required to be adopted for her release.