By By Faizan Bangash
THE Punjab Assembly on Monday echoed with slogans against the National Reconciliation Ordinance after the PML-N and the PML-Q, two arch rivals, joined hands against the PPP over the controversial ordinance, invoking severe retaliation from the PPP members.
The PPP members, in response to the anti-NRO slogans, started chanting the slogans of ‘Muafinama Namanzoor’ (Pardon deal not acceptable) in the House after which Speaker Rana Muhammed Iqbal had to intervene to diffuse the tension which continued till the adjournment of session.
The situation got tense and went out of the Speaker’s control when Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, a PML-Q forward bloc MPA, on a point of order, started criticising the PPP leadership for getting benefits through the NRO. He said the clean chit could never be given to the leaders who had plundered the national wealth, adding that it should not have been done by a party which followed Bhuttoism. He said the Punjab Assembly must hold a debate over the issue as, being the public representatives, the MPAs were answerable to the public.
This led to a severe criticism from the PPP legislators. However, the PPP ministers, present in the House at that time, including Raja Riaz, Farooq Ghurki and Dr Tanvirul Islam, did not become the part of the debate.
Shaukat Basra, a PPP MPA from Bahawalpur, in response to the point raised by Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, came hard on his colleague and termed him a turncoat. He said the elements who were themselves a product of dictatorship and supported usurpers were criticising the PPP leadership.
Shaukat Bhatti, on a point of self-explanation, stood up but much to his surprise, most of the PPP members started chanting the slogans of ‘Lota Lota’ while pointing fingers towards him. He, time and again, tried to deliver his speech but the vociferous slogans by the PPP members did not let him continue.
Speaker Rana Muhammed Iqbal repeatedly tried to calm the PPP members down but they continued chanting slogans till the forward bloc MPA sat down. On this, the situation got normal and the Speaker tried to divert the proceedings towards business. However, the lull in the House remained just for a brief period as Ali Asghar Munda, a PML-N MPA from Sheikhupura, jumped into the discussion. The Speaker told him that he was not given the floor and he must not interrupt the proceedings and let the House finish its business. But Munda continued his speech and stated the issue of the NRO must not be neglected and the House must hold a debate over it. This, once again, irked the PPP legislators who stood up on their seats and asked Munda to remain silent.
The situation got further interesting when a female PML-N MPA started chanting slogans of ‘NRO Namanzoor’ which soon became a joint voice of the PML-N and PML-Q members who also started chanting this slogan, though none of the PML-N ministers, sitting in the House at that time, was seen supporting the slogan. This, for a moment, shocked the PPP camp who weren’t expecting any such a ‘joint venture’ from the House.
However, most of the PPP MPAs, including Dr Akhtar Malik, Shahjahan Bhatti, Aslam Kharal, Riffat Sultana Dar, Azma Bokhari, retaliated to the anti-NRO slogans while chanting the slogan of ‘Muafinama Namanzoor’ and the Speaker once again intervened to put the House in order.
After a while, Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, the PML-Q forward bloc member who was the key player behind the whole rumpus, once again stood up on his seat and the PPP members restarted chanting the slogans of ‘Lota Lota’. Much to his embarrassment, Bhatti had to leave the House silently.
Soon after this, PML-N MPA Ejaz Khan, on a point of order, supported the idea of debate over the NRO but Azma Bokhari started chanting the slogan of ‘Muafinama Namanzoor’ and the Speaker asked the members to maintain order in the House.
Rana Muhammad Afzal, a PML-N MPA from Faisalabad, on a point of order, suggested the House to hold a debate over both the NRO and pardon deal to show facts to the nation. Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday.