ISLAMABAD, Dec 8, (APP): Opposition parties in the National Assembly on Tuesday urged the government to bring matters pertaining to its finance policies in the Parliament for discussion.
Addressing a joint press conference here outside the Parliament House, Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah (PPP), Shah Mehmood Qureshi (Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf), Iqbal Ahmed Khan (MQM), Sahabzada Tariqullah (Jamaat-e-Islami) and Sheikh Rashid
Ahmed (Awami Muslim League) said the Parliament was the right forum to discuss issues like imposition of new taxes and PIA’s proposed privatization.
The employees of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), their families and other people were worried about the airline’s privatization,they added.Syed Khursheed Shah said the opposition parties had raised the issue in the NA. However, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, he said,
had assured the oppoistion that the national airline would not be privatized.
He said opposition had the right to criticize the government policies and they would continue to play their positive role in that regard.The PIA, he said, was facing crisis due to alleged mismanagement in purchase of aircraft and import of spare parts, while the
employees salaries had no extra burden on the department.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the minister concerned should clear the government’s policy about the PIA in the House.Referring to the finance bill, he said the opposition parties
had constitutional right to express its stance on the matter.
The government, he said, was authorized to impose new taxes but the same should be first approved from the Parliament accordance with the Constitution.He said funds should be released for maintaining peace in Karachi and rehabilitation work in flood affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Muhammad Iqbal Khan and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also suggested the government to bring the issues of PIA privatization and finance
policies in the Parliament for discussion.
