Gilani takes cabinet into confidence on 20th Amend
02 February, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Wednesday took the federal cabinet into confidence over constitutional requirements of the Election Commission (ECP) with regards to holding by-polls in different constituencies.
The prime minister took the cabinet and coalition partners into confidence regarding by-polls and their legal and constitutional aspects for which the National Assembly session was summoned on Wednesday, Information Minister Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan told reporters after the meeting.
She said that the prime minister also informed the cabinet about the ongoing consultation process and coordination with political parties in parliament regarding the issue.
Dr Firdaus said that the increase in prices of petroleum products in the international market had compelled the government to raise its prices.
She said that the finance minister had been directed to evolve a strategy, in consultation with provincial governments, to ensure provision of daily routine items at controlled rates.
She added that the meeting deliberated upon establishment of a Madrassah Welfare Authority with the aim to devise a uniform policy for syllabus, student registration and allocation of funds. She said the ministries of interior and states and frontier regions (SAFRON) had been directed to work on emergency basis for early repatriation of 3.5 million Afghan refugees, besides keeping a strict check on their activities. The minister said that the cabinet asked the quarters concerned to revisit the draft of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Ordinance 2011 in consultation with stakeholders so that a final draft could be sent to parliament for approval.
Dr Firdaus said the interior minister had assured the cabinet that an elaborate strategy would be shared on the Safe City Islamabad project within the next 15 days. She added that the federal cabinet also endorsed decisions of the Economic Coordination Committee, stressing the need to ensure timely payments to sugarcane growers.
She said the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited had also been advised to streamline the process of agri-loans so that farmers could take maximum benefit of the facility.
Dr Firdaus said the cabinet also approved payment of Rs 160 billion for clearing the circular debt of power producing companies, which would help reduce duration of load shedding. In response to a question, she said that the government was taking all possible measures to provide uninterrupted gas supply to domestic consumers.
She said that it was proposed in the Federal Budget 2011-12 to collect Rs 120 billion under the Petroleum Development Levy. However, during the first six months of the current fiscal year, only Rs 20 billion had been collected.
Dr Firdaus also urged the Punjab government to take strict action against those responsible for the tragic deaths of innocent people caused by spurious drugs in the province. She added that the federal government was ready to extend any possible assistance in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Wednesday decided to support the opposition over the 20th Constitutional Amendment, after successful negotiations with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
According to details, opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan – in account of his campaign to unite all opposition forces in parliament against the government – convinced JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman to oppose the 20th Amendment Bill.
Sources privy to Chaudhry Nisar told this scribe that the opposition leader made a phone call to the JUI-F chief seeking his support in the National Assembly to block the way for the 20th Amendment Bill, being laid by the government. He sought support for the PML-N in order to give a tough time to the government in the upcoming session on the recommendations being laid by the National Security Council on Pak-US ties and the 20th Amendment.
The JUI-F chief, assuring his support, decided to bring the issue to the parliamentary committee of his party, following which an emergency sitting of the JUI-F parliamentary committee was summoned in the evening.
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