Anarchy if govt-Opp talks fail, says Bhachar

LAHORE: Opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar has warned that the country could face anarchy if the dialogue between Imran Khan and the government suffers a failure.

Speaking on the floor of Punjab Assembly on Friday during the debate on law and order, the Opposition leader urged the PMLN government to get itself 'empowered' first and hold negotiations with those who possessed actual powers. He stated that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) wanted to oppose anything meant for the derailment of the system. Demanding setting up of a Judicial Commission over November 26 incidents, the government could have established the JC if it was empowered in reality. Bhachar stated if the negotiation process failed and political parties continued to wait for some 'signals', our upcoming generations would have to wait for a good time.

Ahmad Khan Bhachar continued that around 10,000 workers of PTI were detained after May 9, 2023 and even by now, around 5,000 were behind the bars. The Opposition leader on the occasion demanded the government visit the families of political workers who lost their lives in clashes.

Thousands of shells were fired against PTI workers and added women were being disrespected by the police. He again urged upon the government to set up the Judicial Commission. Regarding law and order situation in Punjab, Bhachar asked whether the chief minister took any notice of the murder of eight people in Sargodha. He expressed concern over police atrocities in Punjab.

Responding to the Opposition leader, Minister for Law Suhaib Ahmad Bharath offered the Opposition to hold dialogue with the government over November 26 issues and other matters. He said nobody from the government side would back out from commitment and assured the Opposition leader that commission would be set up from the forum of Punjab Assembly. He said the PMLN never believed in the blame game and added that the PTI itself set up a negative precedent of victimising opponents while it was in power. Citing the episode related to the death of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz, Bharath said a woman was on death bed and these people were making fun of that situation. He said a woman was detained and kept in the death cell during PTI era.

Privilege motion in PA against AC Sheikhupura

A ruling party MPA Shazia Rizwan on Friday came up with privilege motion against Assistant Commissioner Sheikhupura Bilawal Hanjra for misbehaving with her when the official was asked to take action over vulgarity in theatres of the City.

Shazia Rizwan, the PMLN MPA in the privilege motion submitted that she was on her visit to monitor the situation of theatres in Sheikhupura and found that vulgarity was at its peak in a theatre. She told the House that her department informed the DC Sheikhupura in writing about the issue. She said the Assistant Commissioner Sheikhupura not only refused to shut the theatre but also talked to the legislator in a very insolent, rude way. Suhaib Bharath, the Minister for Law on the occasion requested the woman MPA of his party not to refer it to the Privilege Committee of PA and stated he would personally look into this matter.

Meanwhile, Fatima Salah ud Din, the PMLN MPA slipped on the assembly stairs and injured her foot. She was immediately provided medical aid by the Rescue 1122 staff.

Earlier, during the question hour session, Punjab Minister for Irrigation Kazim Pirzada responded to the queries related to his department. Malik Arshad, PMLN MPA from Sahiwal protested before Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar for not taking up their questions over which the chair replied all questions could not be discussed in an hour. Zaheer Iqbal Channar chaired the PA session on Friday as Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan is acting Governor these days in the absence of Sardar Salim Haider who is on a foreign visit.