officials was related with land of a cricket ground, owned by the Punjab University Hailey College and being ‘used’ by the Punjab government for Metro Bus Service.
Dr Farzana Nazir of the PML-N asked the minister concerned to explain how much time was needed to make the cricket ground usable for students again.
The question was received by the department concerned on Sept 20, 2013.
However, despite passage of more than one-and-a-half years, the department failed to submit a reply. The situation not only invited criticism from the members across the divide but also infuriated the deputy speaker, who reprimanded the parliamentary secretary as well as the officials for it.
In response to a question raised by Asif Bajwa Advocate, the parliamentary secretary admitted that so far no classes have been held for BCom and MCom in the Postgraduate College, Daska, Sialkot due to insufficient teaching staff.
The answer led to further debate in the house as Asif Bajwa, not only rejected the stance of the department but also put up a question that in the same college, staff was available to conduct intermediate classes but for graduation and post-graduation students, shortage of staff was beyond understanding.
“Is it hard for a teacher of I Com to teach BCom in the same college, or someone who teaches FSc is unable to teach BSc in the same institution,” asked Asif Bajwa. Bajwa also expressed his dissatisfaction at the wrong answer provided by the department but deputy speaker intervened and further debate could not take place.
The PML-N members including Malik Arshad, Nighat Nasir Sheikh, Ashraf Ansari and Mian Tahir also expressed their dissatisfaction at the answers to their queries and stressed that proper attention be paid to address the complaint. PML-N MPAs from Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan reacted strong to the remarks of a senior journalist in a private channel programme regarding the prevailing sense of deprivation among southern Punjab MPs, who could even ‘sell’ their vote for a few hundred thousands rupees in the Senate polls.
Sardar Javed Akhtar Lund, one of the PML-N MPAs, who hails from DG Khan, on a point of order just at the beginning of the PA session, protested against the remarks and said the journalist insulted the people of south Punjab. He said there must be some code of conduct for the media who had no right to insult anyone while using any platform.
Najma Aslam, a woman MPA who also hails from DG Khan, said every worker of the PML-N stood by its leadership and would always act as per the directions of Mian Nawaz Sharif, the party head.
Rai Mansab, the PML-N MPA who hails from Multan, also expressed his anger at the remarks.
The deputy speaker asked Sardar Javed Akhtar Lund to table a privilege motion in this regard. Sources said the Punjab Assembly is likely to pass resolution against these remarks in its sitting on Wednesday (today).