Combined opposition on Monday rejected the 'minor' downward adjustment in POL prices, terming it a cruel joke with the financially crippled masses.
Talking to Business Recorder, opposition leaders said the nation was expecting at least 20-25 percent cut in prices of petroleum products but the rulers showed apathy towards their expectations once again, as there was no compatibility between the price fall in the international market and the domestic adjustment.
Senior Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed described the downward price review as merely an eyewash, saying it was tantamount to adding insult to injury.
He pointed out that there had been fall in POL prices from $80 per barrel to $53, but the government had deliberately denied any substantial relief to the common man.
"Food inflation is touching alarming level, but the rulers are totally insensitive to people's economic hardships," he maintained.
The lawmaker was of the strong view that there should have been across the board significant cut in POL prices, enabling the people to make the both ends meet.
The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) parliamentary secretary Izhar Amrohvi said that the joint opposition would be raising the issue on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.
The opposition has already moved an adjournment motion with the Senate, seeking a debate on the issue. The opposition has raised the POL pricing formula on the floor of both Houses several times.
He recalled that despite persistent attempts, the treasury had declined to allow a discussion in the House during the last session, but this time, the opposition would force a debate.
The 35th session, starting on Tuesday afternoon, would witness fireworks as it would be handling a lengthy agenda, including a bulk of the opposition's adjournment motions, privilege motions, calling attention notices and questions.
Combined opposition filed an adjournment motion with the Senate on Monday, seeking suspension of the routine business to initiate a debate on what they called the worsening law and order situation across the country.
The motion noted it had been reported in the media that Punjab's additional advocate general Arif Bhinder along with his relatives were gunned down in Lahore, which is an apparent example of the failure of law and order in the provincial capital.
"The worsening law and order situation in the country has also been accepted by General Pervez Musharraf ordering the provincial governments to take effective measures in this context," it noted.
The opposition said that a day after the observation by the president, this gory incident happened in daylight.
The Supreme Court chief justice has also expressed shock over the law and order and regretted that the life and property of the common man is highly insecure.
The motion has been filed under Rule 74 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 1988. Senators Mian Raza Rabbani, Professor Khurshid Ahmed, Dr Babar Awan, Dr Safdar Abbasi, M Enver Baig, Sardar Latif Khosa, Saadia Abbasi, Asfandyar Wali, and Farooq H Naek signed the motion.
Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and its allied parties' senators will be meeting in the Parliament House prior to the session, which will begin at 4 pm to devise the strategy.
Likewise, after having separate sessions, joint opposition was also expected to have meeting to thrash out the line of action on how to raise the issues and give tough time to the treasury benches.
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