Opposition protests as huge budget for police dept approved in Punjab PA

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday approved the demand for grants of Rs163 billion for the police department amidst noise from opposition members, who surrounded the speaker’s dais.

The opposition’s Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) member, Imtiaz Sheikh, raised objections to the substantial funds allocated to the police and suggested the government shut down the department due to its poor performance.

During his budget speech, SIC legislator Imtiaz Sheikh remarked that women occupying reserved seats in the house were there on ‘charity’ seats.

In response, members of the Treasury benches began protesting, with Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu asserting that women deserved respect regardless of their mode of entry into the House.

Imtiaz Shaikh clarified that he referred to those who attained their positions through Form 47 as occupying ‘charity’ seats.

The exchange between Imtiaz Sheikh and Khalil Tahir Sindhu escalated, with Imtiaz Sheikh threatening Sindhu and questioning his value. Another SIC member, Ejaz Shafi, engaged in a heated exchange with Deputy Speaker Zaheer Channar after being denied the opportunity to speak.

The deputy speaker warned Ejaz Shafi against dictating to the chair, stating that the house’s business had already been settled with the Chief Whip.

Meanwhile, opposition members encircled the speaker’s dais, and members from both sides stood on their seats.

The chair instructed opposition members Ejaz Shafi and Ahmed Khan Bhachar to take their

seats and advised Shafi to moderate his tone and engage in constructive dialogue.

The finance minister urged the opposition to adjust its behaviour, accusing it of deliberately prolonging the cut-motion debate as the government needed to pass the budget that day.