Punjab

Absence of MPAs forces session to be prorogued

The house failed to assemble the required number of legislatures.

Rana Yasif May 27, 2017

Punjab Assembly. PHOTO: EXPRESS

The Punjab Assembly session was prorogued for the fourth time due to the failure of MPAs to show for proceedings. Observers said these circumstances amply displayed the lackadaisical attitude of the government.

While the house failed to assemble the required number of legislatures, even those who had asked questions regarding industries, commerce and investment remained were conspicuous in their absence. There were six questions on these subjects and seven on the agenda of the prison department.

Only Dr Waseem Akhtar requested the speaker to put his questions on pending. Meanwhile, Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment Sheikh Allauddin was present in the House to answer the queries.

On the other hand, Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan snubbed the prisons inspector general (IG) and warned him to appear before the House in a proper police uniform.

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The warning was given as Qamar ul Islam Raja drew the attention of the speaker towards the conduct of IG prisons. He said these police officials appear before their bosses in proper uniforms so why can they not do the same in front of the assembly. The speaker warned the IG by saying such mistakes will not be ignored next time.

On behalf of Haji Imran Zafar, MPA Tariq Mehmood asked whether the government had the intention to shift the Gujrat jail as security risks had increased due to high-rise buildings nearby. In response, Punjab Minister for Prisons Minister Malik Ahmed Yar said the government had no intention to shift it as there was no security issue in jail.

On another point, opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed lashed out on the government over unscheduled load shedding which had made the lives of people miserable. He requested the speaker to direct the central government to ensure there was no load shedding in Ramazan.

He added that the government should provide temporary relief to people rather than investing in the train projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2017.