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Thursday March 28, 2024

Commotion continues in Punjab Assembly

By Asim Hussain
October 22, 2016

LAHORE

The commotion in the Punjab Assembly continued on Friday, like the most part of the week, as government and opposition members traded charges and slogans against each other’s leadership, while several opposition members also surrounded the Speaker’s dais accusing him of being partisan towards the government.

Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed initiated the protest against the PML-N leaders for their accusations against Imran Khan regarding the alleged misappropriation of Shaukat Khanum Caner Hospital funds and demanding its accountability. However, problems for the ruling PML-N members increased as the PPP members also joined hands with PTI members in their protest against PML-N leadership and announced that it was also ready to take to the street against the government.

Taking cue from PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader Makhdoom Shahabuddin, though refrained from showing a total partisan behaviour for PTI by saying his party was against any misadventure that could derail the democracy, announced that the PPP was also ready to take to the street against the government. He said if the four demands made by Bilawat Bhutto Zardari were not met within the deadline, the PPP would also give a call for public agitation across the country on December 27. He said the PPP would give a call for a long march towards Islamabad which would ensure removal of PML-N government.

Earlier, the government survived a shortage of quorum and barely was able to manage carrying on with the day’s proceedings when PTI member Nabila Hakim Ali drew the Chair’s attention towards lack of quorum. Initially the treasury benches remained unable to muster the minimum required number in the House. But after waiting for 15 minutes and ringing bells for the third time, the treasury benches barely mustered the required number in the House.

Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed rose on a point of order and demanded that PML-N ministers refrain from making wild accusations against Shaukat Khanum Hospital which had been providing free and cheap cancer treatment to the poor. He said even the enemies refrained from targeting hospitals in war but the PML-N ministers lacked the decency to spare the hospitals from their political ambitions. He alleged that PML-N ministers had created a war-like situation in the country. On this, the opposition members began raising slogans of ‘shame, 'shame.’

Mian Mehmood continued to press the charges of Panama Leaks and said the prime minister must tender his resignation on that and should bring in some other prime minister in his place. 

This led to a situation where several members from both sides began raising loud slogans, PIT members calling ‘Go Nawaz Go, Nawaz Talashi Do’, while PML-N members called Imran Khan a liar and ‘Ro Imran Ro’. The uproar continued despite repeated requests and calls by Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan to the opposition members to maintain order in the House.

The opposition members also gathered around his dais, demanding him 'display impartiality.'

The commotion died down after several minutes when PPP Deputy Parliamentary Leader Makhdoom Shahabuddin also jumped into the fray. Speaking on a point of order, he repeated the threats which Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had already given to the rulers that the party was ready to give call for anti-government agitation if its demands were not met till December 27.

Earlier, Parliamentary Secretary Nawaz Chohan and Karim Langrial replied to members queries during the Question Hour on Transport, Planning and Development.

But the questions on social welfare and Baitul Maal were deferred because neither the minister concerned no the parliamentary secretary were present in the House. The proceedings were adjourned for Monday evening.