Speaker disappointed by tardy MPAs

Several movers of questions not present during Tuesday’s session

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly Speaker was disappointed with the attitude of legislators who had put forward questions for discussion in Tuesday’s session, but did not bother to show up despite the fact that their names were called three times.

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan wanted to debate over the questions asked by legislators. The queries were related to the Youth Affairs, Sports as well as Mines and Minerals departments, but had to disposed of when it was discovered that the movers were not present.



First, the questions were left pending due to the absence of the MPAs concerned and later the speaker continued reading the agenda’s first item (question hour). Later, some other legislators asked questions on behalf of the movers.

One question was of PTI legislator Dr Nausheen Hamid and it was referred to the relevant committee on her request. Meanwhile, PML-N legislator Nighat Sheikh seemed dissatisfied with two questions related to ports as well as mines and minerals.

The speaker answered by saying the queries were of public interest and needed to be debated upon. However, the Speaker then read the same agenda (question hour) for the third time and finally disposed of the questions as the movers were not present in the House.

Later, several movers reached in the House after other items on the agenda were taken up. JI’s legislator Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar had asked two questions, but the relevant departments could not reply.

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Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan had issued several warnings in the past about late arrivals and warned MPAs to follow time schedules. However, they were all in vain.

Meanwhile, there was pandemonium in the House when opposition leader Mian Mehmood ur Rasheed, on a point of order, demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He pointed out the Lahore High Court (LHC) had declared the shifting/relocation of three sugar mills owned by the Sharif family from Central Punjab to South Punjab as illegal and without lawful authority.

The opposition legislators chanted slogans of “Go Shehbaz Go”, while treasury members responded by demanding “justice for Gulalai.”

Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed applauded the LHC’s verdict and said it was a historical one. He added such decisions shone through as rays of hope for the common man. He added that a countdown had begun against the “corruption mafia”.

He said the CM violated the constitution by shifting the mills. Rasheed continued that he had submitted a reference against the Punjab CM, but the speaker had declared the matter as sub-judice. He pointed out that the court had now announced its decision on the case.

Minister for Human Rights & Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, responding the opposition leader, said the latter should “clean his eyes” before criticising others. He asked the Rasheed to first respond to an ECP notice issued to PTI.

PML-N legislator and Chief Whip Rana Arshad said PTI leaders feared defeat in the upcoming NA-120 by-election. He said people would not get trapped by PTI’s tactics, adding the people of Data ki Nagri will elect his party.

Afterwards, opposition legislator Dr Murad Rass pointed out the lack of quorum. The bells rang for five minutes and later proceedings were adjourned for 15 minutes. The session was ultimately adjourned till 10am on Wednesday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2017.