Legislators belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League N Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamaat I Islami, PML, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party staged a walkout from the Senate against a massive increase in the prices of petroleum products and natural gas. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the decision which they said would have a domino effect on all sectors of the economy. Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the JI said that the walkout was not only aimed at expressing displeasure over the increase in the prices of petroleum products and hike in gas tariff but also at demanding immediate reversal of the decision. A joint adjournment motion by different political parties against the hike in the prices of petroleum products was held to be in order by Senate Chairman Farooq H. Naek. He announced that the issue would be discussed for two hours at an appropriate time. Prof Khurshid Ahmed, Prof Ibrahim, Raja Zafarul Haq, and Afia Zia had moved the motion. Dr Asim Hussain Petroleum Minister of Pakistan opposed the motion and said that the petroleum prices were not finalized by the government but by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority. The fluctuation in dollar rupee parity changed the fuel prices and there had also been an increase in the international prices of petroleum products. The general sales tax and petroleum development levy being part of the Money Bill could not be reversed. However, Mr Ishaq Dar leader of PML-N Parliamentary Leader pointed out that the government had withdrawn the GST and PDL through an administrative order last year. The issue of the absence of ministers from the house was raised once again. He suggested to the chairman to withdraw for one week flag and squad of the ministers who ignored the proceedings of the house.

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