National Assembly approves Rs 640 billion supplementary grants

The government on Saturday pushed through the National Assembly more than Rs 640 billion supplementary grants for current fiscal year, including an amount of Rs 290 million spent in excess on foreign visits of President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The views on possibility of dissolution of assemblies dominated the entire proceedings of the house that also approved excess demands for grants and appropriations for the years 1985-86, 1986-87 and 1987-88.
It was pointed out that the Prime Minister's visit abroad resulted in excess amount of Rs 16.7 million, whereas the national kitty suffered an extra loss of Rs 12 million because of President Musharraf's visits abroad. An amount of Rs 19.416 million was spent for purchase/upgradation of security system for the Prime Minister House and Secretariat.
The opposition protested over the supplementary grants for Cabinet Division, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and heavy subsidies given to oil refineries and Pakistan Railways.
The government suffered embarrassment when a treasury member, M.P Bhandara, said that the supplementary grants should have been moved in the house after complete examination by the standing committee concerned. Mainly, members from both sides of the aisle talked about wide speculations that assemblies were being dissolved in the coming days.
As the government reiterated that the assemblies would complete their terms, and elections would be held according to the constitution, the opposition said that it would strongly oppose President's re-election by the present assemblies.
Reacting on PML President Shujaat Hussain's reported statement about dissolution of assemblies, Fazlur Rehman said they would never advise NWFP Governor to dissolve the provincial assembly to give the government any chance to take any unconstitutional step.
He called upon members sitting on both sides of the aisle to strive for restoration of a genuine democracy as he was not sure whether the next assembly session would take place or not. His statement was welcomed by Railways Minister Rashid Ahmed who agreed that there was need to evolve a national consensus on all political issues.
Rashid urged the opposition leader to respond positively to the offer extended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and PML chief Shujaat Hussain to frame an agreed code of conduct for coming elections. He conceded that free, fair and transparent elections were need of the hour.
But there was complete confusion and difference of opinion among the treasury members, as Farooq Amjad from Lahore categorically distanced himself and his party PML on the reference filed by Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Niazi against PTI chief Imran Khan.
Zafarullah Khan Jamali also condemned the references filed by Sher Afgan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and one by the opposition against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Jamali said there were some four months and 28 days left in completion of present assemblies' tenure but many believe the assemblies would be dissolved soon.
On the other hand, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Farooq Sattar demanded of the government to hold an inquiry into the May 12 Karachi event, complaining that his party was cheated by some invisible elements. Amid speculations and strong rumours about dissolution of assemblies, the National Assembly was adjourned sine die.