Islamabad: The PPP on Friday blocked the passage of two government bills through the standing committee on petroleum of the National Assembly (NA) amid a spat between the PML-N A and the PPP on elections in Azad Kashmir and differences over developments related to new provinces.

The PPP’s Syed Mustafa Mehmood, lawmaker and former federal minister for petroleum and finance Syed Naveed Qamar asked the panel at the outset not to discuss the Natural Gas (Development Surcharge) Amendment Bill and the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) Amendment Bill.

Outside Qamar told reporters that the PPP had supported the government despite not being a coalition partner, but that the government needed to hear his parties concerns on issues such as problems in the AJK elections, the appointment of judges and other matters.

He indicated that the government had promised to look into these issues but had not shown any progress and so the PPP had decided that it would not support the government until tangible progress was seen.

“The government needs to resolve these issues and take steps,” he said, adding that the law minister was abroad and it was unclear where he was active these days.