Opposition bemoans massive power breakdown

Lawmakers pass 12 bills in just 45 minutes

LAHORE: As Punjab and other parts of the country experienced a massive power breakdown, the provincial assembly passed 12 bills despite attempts of the opposition legislators who pointed out quorum thrice. However, the government maintained the required number of its MPAs to run the session.

It was the first time that the Punjab Assembly’s session started three hours late owing to the power breakdown. The legislators used the pages of the agenda as handmade fans in the House. Powered by electricity generators, only small lights and microphones were functioning.



As the session started on 1:04 while the scheduled time was of 10:00am, the legislators were at loggerheads after the opposition protested against the failure of the government over such a massive power breakdown. Opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, on point of order, said it was regrettable that the House proceedings started late owing to a power breakdown, adding the government should have taken steps to avoid such situation in Punjab Assembly. Rasheed also grilled the deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif over his controversial statement. After the question-answer session, Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sindhu suggested twice to hand over PML-N’s legislator Mian Rafique to what he termed ‘Khalai Makhlooq’ when the former criticised his own government and wanted to speak on the shortage of water in the province. Rafique said the government was busy in the construction of roads while canals in Punjab have dried up.

During the question-answer session, the speaker had to adjourn the House for 10 minutes when the opposition pointed out that secretary agriculture was not present in the official box. The opposition pointed out quorum thrice after short intervals but the government showed its required number. The government introduced a bill while 12 bills were passed in 45 minutes. The House was adjourned by Thursday 11:00am.

Talking to The Express Tribune Punjab Assembly PRO Abdul Qahhar Rashid said this was the first time that the electricity had affected the House proceedings so badly.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2018.