Members of the National Assembly on Tuesday expressed reservations on 1 percent increase in GST, drone strikes, law and order situation in Balochistan and role of agencies.
Addressing a call-attention notice by PTI lawmaker Shireen Mazari, Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said the government had conveyed reservations to the United States over the drone strikes. He hoped that in the near future the government would become successful in restricting the drone strikes.
Giving details of the drone strikes inside Pakistan, he said that the US conducted 115 attacks in 2010; in 2011 62 strikes; in 2012 14 drones strikes were conducted inside Pakistan, adding, “13 drones strikes have been recorded in the current year.”
“Pakistan was to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner, if remains undressed then all the options could be used,” he added.
Shireen Mazari interrupted him and said that he was reading out a traditional statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry that could not be trusted, adding that other than statements the House should be informed about what measures have been adopted on ground to get rid of drone strikes.
To this, Aziz informed the House that in the upcoming engagements between Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan would present its strategy to stop such strikes.
PPP lawmaker Naveed Qamar warned the House that the country would have to pay penalty worth billions of dollars, if failed in buying gas from Iran.
“Would Americans pay the penalties if Pakistan following American directions refuses to buy gas from Iran, after the agreement?” Qamar questioned. “We should not expect any one for our assistance.”
Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah said that in Balochistan people’s government has been formed and Dr Abdul Malik was indeed a person with public mandate that makes it a golden opportunity to resolve the Balochistan issue. He noted that this time having good majority in the house the government was strong enough to avoid blackmailing.
Over the role of establishment, PPP leader said the establishment should sit together with the government and resolve the Balochistan problem. He added that 95 percent people from Balochistan preferred peace and only five percent were those who wanted disturbance in the province, adding that whatever steps the provincial government would adopt to resolve the issue the PPP would support it.
“If remains unaddressed, no one would be able to address the Balochistan issue ever,” he added more urging government to dialogue with the angry leadership of the Balochistan.
Following a call-attention notice from Naeema Akhtar regarding load shedding, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif said the total shortfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was 700 megawatts.
With rising temperature, Asif said, the rise in production of hydropower would bring visible decrease in the power load shedding.
To questions by Asia Nasir and Shahida Akhtar Ali, the minister said that no final deadline could be given for ending the load shedding, however, a visible decrease was the priority of the government. He said the government would announce its policy on the issue.
Earlier, the opposition members while participating in the budget debate criticised the government and mentioned that 1 percent increase in GST will result in price hike‚ which would directly affect the poor. They said budgetary proposals would trigger inflation and add to the woes of the poor people.
