Fuel price surge issue bulldozes NA session

A stormy session of the National Assembly was thrown into disarray on Friday after a sharp increase in petroleum prices triggered fierce protests by opposition lawmakers, forcing the proceedings to be adjourned amid chaos.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the session began under the chair of Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah but quickly turned turbulent as opposition members launched a strong protest against the recent fuel price hike.

Lawmakers held placards, chanted slogans against the government and gathered in front of the Speaker’s dais, tearing copies of the agenda in a dramatic show of dissent.

Despite repeated appeals from the deputy speaker urging members to return to their seats and raise their concerns after the question hour, the opposition continued its protest.

Opposition leader Junaid Akbar criticised the government, accusing it of imposing a sudden and severe burden on the public by increasing petrol prices overnight.

During the session, the deputy speaker directed that criticism should remain within parliamentary limits and not target the establishment, ordering certain remarks to be removed from the official record.

However, the intensity of the protest and disorder left little room for legislative business, prompting the chair to adjourn the session until Monday evening.

Earlier in the proceedings, Member of the National Assembly Munaza Hassan raised serious concerns over the challenges faced by media workers, following a walkout by journalists a day earlier in protest against layoffs and non-payment of salaries.

Munaza informed the House that, on the instructions of Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, lawmakers Shazia Marri and Barrister Aqeel Malik were sent to engage with the protesting journalists after their boycott of proceedings.

She stated that media workers complained of being removed from their jobs without prior notice and of not receiving salaries for up to three months. She added that journalists had also been deprived of concessionary railway travel facilities, which had previously supported their professional duties.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, Munaza said it is extremely difficult to survive even a single day without a salary in the current economic climate, noting that some journalists are being paid below the minimum wage.

She urged the information minister to immediately engage with both journalists and media organisations to resolve the matter without delay.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly also offered prayers for those martyred in a terrorist attack in Bannu. Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah informed the House that members of a single family were among the victims of the attack on a police station. On his request, MNA Nasib Ali Shah led the prayers for the deceased.

Reporter Rozina Ali