Protest against speaker: Opposition sets up parallel session on PA stairs
Demand speaker take back his ‘derogatory words’ and tender written apology
PTI’s Dr Nausheen Hamid addresses opposition lawmakers. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
Opposition lawmakers set up a symbolic assembly session on the stairs of the Punjab Assembly building to protest against the ‘partial attitude’ of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan.
Interestingly, when a resolution was being read by PTI legislator Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui at the ‘protest session’, the legislative assembly halls echoed with bells pointing out a lack of quorum and awaiting the required number of lawmakers inside.
The Punjab Assembly speaker had given a shut-up call to an opposition member from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during Wednesday’s session, after he accused the chair of being biased.
The opposition’s parallel session chaired by PTI’s Dr Nausheen Hamid continued for about 30 minutes, debating on the actual agenda which was being discussed in the constitutional assembly calmly without the usual interjections for “order, order” or “silence please”.
The joint opposition including the PTI, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and independent legislators shouted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
They also passed a joint ‘resolution’, demanding the speaker take back his ‘derogatory words’ and tender a written apology. The resolution stated they would not join the Punjab Assembly proceedings and would continue their session daily on the assembly stairs until their demands are met.
Later the legislators delivered their pre-budget speeches, where Opposition Leader Mehmoodur Rasheed, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Sadia Sohail Rana, Arif Abassi, Faiza Malik, Khadija Umar Farooqi, Ahmad Shah Khaga and Sardar Hasan Akhtar Moakal participated. The session was later adjourned till Friday (today) 11am.
Inside the Punjab Assembly, the session started about 90 minutes later than the schedule. During the question hour, Higher Education Department’s parliamentary secretary Mehwish Sultana answered some queries.
Many treasury members, including Anees Qureshi, Mian Rafiq and Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, asked about the construction of marriage halls and a private housing scheme on the Punjab University land, terming them illegal and in violation of the Supreme Court orders.
Mehwish said such lease of Punjab University land was permitted in 2001 by then president and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman Attaur Rehman, for covering educational expenses of the university.
However, she assured the lawmakers that leased land could be withdrawn from the contractors within one-month notice. She also denied any housing scheme at the land of PU.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2017.
Opposition lawmakers set up a symbolic assembly session on the stairs of the Punjab Assembly building to protest against the ‘partial attitude’ of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan.
Interestingly, when a resolution was being read by PTI legislator Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui at the ‘protest session’, the legislative assembly halls echoed with bells pointing out a lack of quorum and awaiting the required number of lawmakers inside.
The Punjab Assembly speaker had given a shut-up call to an opposition member from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during Wednesday’s session, after he accused the chair of being biased.
The opposition’s parallel session chaired by PTI’s Dr Nausheen Hamid continued for about 30 minutes, debating on the actual agenda which was being discussed in the constitutional assembly calmly without the usual interjections for “order, order” or “silence please”.
The joint opposition including the PTI, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and independent legislators shouted slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
They also passed a joint ‘resolution’, demanding the speaker take back his ‘derogatory words’ and tender a written apology. The resolution stated they would not join the Punjab Assembly proceedings and would continue their session daily on the assembly stairs until their demands are met.
Later the legislators delivered their pre-budget speeches, where Opposition Leader Mehmoodur Rasheed, Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Sadia Sohail Rana, Arif Abassi, Faiza Malik, Khadija Umar Farooqi, Ahmad Shah Khaga and Sardar Hasan Akhtar Moakal participated. The session was later adjourned till Friday (today) 11am.
Inside the Punjab Assembly, the session started about 90 minutes later than the schedule. During the question hour, Higher Education Department’s parliamentary secretary Mehwish Sultana answered some queries.
Many treasury members, including Anees Qureshi, Mian Rafiq and Maulana Ilyas Chinioti, asked about the construction of marriage halls and a private housing scheme on the Punjab University land, terming them illegal and in violation of the Supreme Court orders.
Mehwish said such lease of Punjab University land was permitted in 2001 by then president and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman Attaur Rehman, for covering educational expenses of the university.
However, she assured the lawmakers that leased land could be withdrawn from the contractors within one-month notice. She also denied any housing scheme at the land of PU.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2017.