 | NA session: Outrage over dual nationality declaration continues
12 October 2012
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ISLAMABAD:
Lawmakers from the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Thursday continued their criticism of the Election Commission of Pakistan for seeking fresh affidavits from parliamentarians over their dual nationality.
“Being Member National Assembly (MNA) has almost become a sin as there are certain suspicions on their academic certificates. They are receiving proforma (Latin for ‘for the sake of form’) about dual nationality and it seems they might be asked for a DNA test as well,” said PPP legislator Aijaz Virk.
Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly, Virk called the ECP’s decision, carried out on the directives of the Supreme Court, ‘an insult’ to parliament and also pointed out some language mistakes in the proforma sent to them.
Virk’s criticism comes on the heels of similar bashing of the ECP by his party colleagues a couple of days ago.
Separate winter tariff for gas
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain informed the lower house that the government was contemplating introducing separate tariffs for gas for summer and winter to overcome shortages.
He added, however, that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal Cabinet would take the final decision, but stopped short of explaining how the move was anticipated to enhance gas supply during winter, which is just around the corner.
To a question, Minister for Defence Syed Naveed Qamar informed the National Assembly that an order had been placed for purchasing three Boeing 777 aircraft for the Pakistan International Airline (PIA), besides acquiring other planes on dry lease shortly.
He said that every jet had a flying age and was replaced after a specific period. He added that five unserviceable PIA aircraft were permanently grounded in the last four years as per the decision of the Board of Directors of PIA.
The minister further said that no chartered fight of the PIA was cancelled due to non supply of oil.
To a question‚ Minister for Heritage and Integration Samina Khalid Ghurki said that 472 new artifacts had been added to the existing museum collections at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology at Shakarparian in Islamabad during the last four years. Ghurki said over 1,200 new antiquities and precious statues had been discovered from different parts of the country in the last five years.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Human Rights Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the federal government‚ governments of Punjab and Sindh‚ Pakistan Baitul Maal and Bahria Town Administration have compensated the bereaved families’ victims of fire incidents in factories in Karachi and Lahore. Some Rs156.28 million were distributed among them, he added.
The National Assembly also offered fateha for former minister Dr Sher Afghan Niazi, who passed away on Thursday after protracted illness. | | See Also in Political News
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