PML-N, MQM stage walk out from NA session

ZULFIQAR AHMAD & NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: Members of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Thursday staged walkout from the National Assembly in protest against anti-people policies of the government and paying no heed to their suggestions.

The members of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) also staged walkout from the Lower House of the Parliament in protest against the statement of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani given on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday in which he said that the PPP has no issue with Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and he belongs to the same party and they are family, if there is any difference of opinion, it is democracy.

While criticising the government, leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said, "the government is not serious to implement the proposals of the Opposition and did not want to resolve the problems of the people. There is no result to sitting here. It is better to stand with the people instead of sitting in the House."

He said the House should be made meaningful adding that before the start of each session the government should present an agenda for the welfare of people. "We will support all people-friendly policies of the government but oppose anything which will be against their (people's) interest," he added.

He also alleged that the government could not resolve load shedding problem. He said that the farmers were suffering due to either unavailability of fertilizer or because of its high prices.

The Opposition Leader also supported his party member Zahid Hamid, who earlier on a point of order said that some people were protesting outside the Parliament against him because he had opposed some parts of the Industrial Relations Ordinance on legal basis and said that after the 18th Amendment it is now a provincial issue. He claimed that there is loss of one trillion rupees in various public institutions, including PIA, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and claimed that some cronies have been appointed in these organisations.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali said that a minister of PML-Q (Faisal Saleh Hayat) says in the Supreme Court that this government is corrupt but he is part of it and sat in its cabinet. "It is shame for him, he termed this government corrupt but he was part of it", he said.

After it, the members of PML-N staged walkout from the House in protest against the government.

Meanwhile MQM's Hiader Abbas Rizvi on a point of order said that his party took out rally in Karachi to show solidarity with the President, but those involved in allegations against his party and leadership were being "given protocol".

He said they have raised the issue with the Prime Minister and today they are raising with the President. As a protest we are boycotting today's remaining session of the Assembly, he said.

Earlier, the House extended the Pakistan Industrial Relations Ordinance 2011 for further 120 days.

Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid moved a resolution to further extend the Ordinance for 120 days.

While speaking on the Ordinance Zahid Hamid said that the subject of labour has been devolved to the provinces after passage of 18th Amendment of the constitution. Now it is up to the provinces to make legislations in this regard, he said.

Syed Khurshid Shah said that the ordinance would lapse within three days and if we did not adopt resolution then the workers of the public institutions would be badly affected. The House adopted the resolution.