LAHORE, April 8: The Punjab Assembly on Friday concluded a discussion on law and order, price hike and pre-budget suggestions and most of speakers agreed that the situation

was worsening on first two accounts.

Winding up the discussion, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raja Basharat offered a halfhearted defence of the government on both accounts —- a defence, which even his own colleagues on treasury beaches refused to accept.

The minister said the government had provided all possible resources to police and now it was for them to deliver. Of 450 patrol points, 282 had already been established. With their completion, it would be easier to control crime on highways.

He credited the government with abolishing the political role of police and turning it into a professional body. One proof of which, he said, was the end in police encounters.

“Such events were a routine in the past. There is no political victimization and all these factors should help control crime.

“Most of the factors mentioned by MPAs contributing to price hike were federal subjects and provinces have no control over them,” he said.

The federal government though was trying hard on its part to control price rise and it should soon succeed given the extent of its commitment. The main factor contributing to price spiral was petroleum prices. They have gone up internationally and the government has taken a hit of Rs50 billion in stabilizing the price before starting passing on the burden to common man, he said.

Finance Minister Husnain Bahadur Dareshak, in his winding up speech, spelt out priorities for the next budget and said social sector would get the preference. Education and health would get major chunk of money and so would be drainage schemes across the province. Maintenance of infrastructure was also a priority area.

He promised that no new tax would be levied. Only those with a capacity to pay would be brought in the expanding tax net. The government would also remove disparities among different parts of the province, he claimed.

Earlier, deputy opposition leader Rana Sana said countless failures of governance have led to killing price hike. The ruling elite has stopped bothering about common man. During the last years, the president and the prime minister have had 35 foreign tours. Results of their globe trotting could be gauged from the fact that only $70 million foreign investment has come to Pakistan out of $2.95 billion made by European Union countries alone. These tours must have cost the country more than their benefits, he said.

“Petroleum prices skyrocketed during the last five years; it was Rs24 per litre when Pervez Musharraf took over, now it is Rs46 and still rising. Price of every commodity has gone up with the rise in petroleum price. As if, it was enough, the government is raising prices of gas and electricity as well. All three sectors were in total control of the government. So it can be blamed for increasing prices.”

Confusion in governance created by the devolution plan has also contributed to crises. Magistracy power have been plucked out of the system and there was no mechanism to check price spiral. This situation has only worsened crisis in governance and poverty in the country, he added.

Rana Sana grilled army leadership for repeated interference in democratic journey of the country and rigging system in their favour. These forays have created a sense of deprivation among the masses and encouraged a mafia like situation. They also created a class above the law and made life miserable for every one living outside their system, he claimed.