NA passes resolution condemning Quetta attacks

National Assembly (NA) on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the inhumane and cowardly acts of terrorism in Balochistan, a day before.
The session opened with speaker Ayaz Sadiq moderating the debate on budgetary proposals for the next financial year.
Federal Minister for Law Zahid Hamid of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) presented a resolution saying the august house condemned the terrorist strikes on a Women University bus and Bolan Medical College, expressing grief and unity with families of those martyred.
The resolution stated that the whole nation was shocked over the attack on the residence of Quaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The resolution prayed for the departed souls and early recovery of the injured. The NA also condemned the kidnapping of five doctors in Loralai on Friday.
Participating in the debate‚ Muhammad Khan Sherani from Jamiate Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said budget proposals for the next fiscal year 2013-14 proved unfriendly towards the people of Pakistan.
He said the increase in tax net and rate will directly affect consumers.
“The rise in the GST would raise inflation in the coming days which would directly affect the price hike situation,” Sherani added, asking the government to bring some amendments in budgetary proposals.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Raja Aamer Zaman welcomed the government’s initiative of launching schemes for youth and said the base of these schemes must be broadened.
Zaman said 10 percent increase in salaries of government employees is praiseworthy but he proposed that the increase should be fifteen to twenty percent.
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister and JUI-F member Akram Khan Durrani welcomed abolition of secret funds by the government. He said secret funds of political agents in tribal areas must also be abolished.
He also proposed that salaries of government employees be further increased by five to ten percent.
PML-N leader and Federal Minister for Defense Productions Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government had taken some difficult steps to improve the country’s economy.
He said the previous government used Rs 47 billion in discretionary funds which this budget abolished. He said the amount saved owing to this move would be utilised for different development purposes.
He further said the government had launched housing schemes for low income segments besides training programs for postgraduates.
Shahabudin from FATA, during his speech, said every new technology being discovered by the world was being tested on the tribal belt of Pakistan which was a great injustice.
He said people from FATA were losing their lives while drones strikes continued.
Shahabudin warned if these strikes continued, the people of FATA would turn towards Islamabad and cordon off the parliament.
Amir Haider Khan Hoti of Awami National Party (ANP) appreciated steps taken by the federal government including formation of government in Balochistan and KP. He said the decision to end circular debt in 60 days was also worth admiration.
Muhammad Ayaz Soomro of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) described the budget as anti-poor. He said tax had been imposed on all essential commodities in the budget which will create great problems for the masses.
Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari of PML-N said the government had introduced a number of austerity measures to strengthen the economy.