ISLAMABAD: Former leader of the opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman has demanded that the government should brief the House regarding Indian ‘spy’ Nehal Ansari’s release and on the matter of Kulbhushan Jadhav.
Senator Sherry Rehman stated that Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav’s case was being heard by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the government high-ups should inform the House regarding progress on the matter.
“We got to know through newspapers that Pakistan has released Hamid Ansari upon completion of his prison term,” she said. She said that a spy’s capture and release after three years raises several questions.
Earlier, responding to a calling attention notice moved by Mir Kabeer Ahmed and others regarding the shortage of gas supply in Sindh and Balochistan, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that there was no shortage of gas supply to domestic consumers and general industry in Sindh.
He said that presently the CNG sector is fully operational in Sindh, adding that only captive industry was suffering and it has been decided that Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) will provide 50 per cent indigenous gas of Sindh while the rest will be made available from other sources.
Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that the total production of Pakistan’s petroleum stands at 15 per cent while 85 per cent of the commodity is imported. He said that the total production of all four provinces was 3500 MMCFD, while LNG of 800 MMCFD is imported. He said that Punjab produces 114 MMCFD, Sindh 2300 MMCFD, Balochistan 680 MMCFD, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 405 MMCFD.
The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has also taken notice of the issue and an inquiry is also underway in this regard. The chair referred the matter to the concerned standing committee for further deliberations.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan said that all possible measures are being taken to fulfil the commitments made with the people of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). He said that Rs1.35 billion will soon be released under the Agency Development Fund.
He said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken steps regarding tax exemptions announced for the tribal people. Ali Muhammad Khan said that election will be held in tribal districts next year to elect 16 members for KP Assembly from the area.