Symbolic session: Government fails to woo opposition

While govt lawmakers pointed out lack of quorum in parallel session, the speaker designate did not adjourn gathering

LAHORE: The treasury benches attempt to get the opposition’s symbolic session on Punjab Assembly stairs prorogued proved futile as the lawmakers refused to join the legislative session inside for the second day running. While the government lawmakers pointed out the lack of quorum in the parallel session, the speaker designate did not adjourn the gathering, dismissing their concerns and continuing with the protest against the PA speaker’s ‘biased’ attitude. The opposition also passed a resolution, demanding the Punjab government to define its policy on profiling Pakhtuns, alleging that the people were being misbehaved with as neither CNICs were being issued to them nor their accounts were being opened in banks. Afterwards the session was adjourned till Monday 4pm. As usual, the legislative session inside began late at 10:40am instead of 9am. When the quorum was pointed out by PTI legislator Asif Mehmood, the session was adjourned for five minutes and then again for 20 minutes. When it finally began, questions were asked about primary and secondary health with parliamentary secretary Muhammad Ali Khokhar replying to the queries. The session has been adjourned till Monday 3pm.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2017.