Punjab budget session marred by opposition’s walkout

Opposition demands forming a committee to probe alleged vandalism at Punjab Assembly


Rana Yasif October 20, 2018
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Hamza Shehbaz during a protest outside Punjab Assembly in Lahore. PHOTO: INP

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly session called on Friday for ‘general discussion’ on annual budget for 2018-19 was marred after the opposition boycotted the house proceedings in protest against a ban imposed by the speaker on six lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The opposition staged the protest on the assembly’s stairs and strongly condemned the Speaker Pervez Elahi for his ‘partiality’ in banning the MPAs including a woman for allegedly damaging the assembly’s furniture and other equipment during the budget-day.

The PML-N’s legislators delivered fiery speeches during their protest. Referring to title of a recently launched animated movie, they chanted: “Donkey Raja Ki Sarkar Nahi Chulay Gi Nahi Chulay Gi [Rule of a donkey cannot continue]”.

PML-N announces boycott of Punjab Assembly

Talking to reporters, Punjab Assembly Leader of Opposition Hamza Shehbaz vowed not to return to the house until entry of the six MPAs is restored. He claimed that a picture was issued ‘in connivance with the speaker’ to the media houses portraying that the PML-N legislators damaged the furniture.

“It is a fake picture. We demand that a committee be constituted to probe the matter,” he added.

However, inside the assembly the ruling coalition’s legislators not only took the opposition to task for ‘causing damage to the assembly’ but also demanded recovery of the Rs900,000 loss from salaries of the ‘violent MPAs’ involved in the vandalism.

Minister for Public Prosecution Chaudhary Zahiruddin said opposition had not come out of the ‘Model Town massacre mindset’. Pointing out the opposition’s protest on the stairs, the minister said ‘baggers’ sat on stairs as he dared the opposition to return to the house and ‘face’ them.

He also ‘suggested’ that Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Raja should give the opposition training in ethics, manners and decorum of the assembly.

Punjab Information Minister Fayaz-ul-Hasan Chohan said the opposition not only damaged furniture and other equipment but also ruined the dignity, honour and decorum of the assembly.

While calling for recovering loss of Rs.9,00,000 from the rowdy lawmakers, Busharat Raja assured the speaker of support of all treasury benches over his decision to ban entry of the MPAs.

He also called for constituting a parliamentary committee, consisting of opposition members, to decide who was responsible for the vandalism in light of the CCTV footage.

The Pakistan Rah-e-Haq Party’s Muhammad Muavia as well as a PTI’s Saeed Akbar, however, laid stress on engaging the opposition, adding that opposition is the beauty of the house.

They said it is a tradition of the parliament that the opposition leader starts ‘general discussion’ on annual budget but today the tradition was not followed which, they said, is regrettable.

Meanwhile, the PML-N’s Mian Tahir Jameel entered the house and pointed out lack of quorum.  Basharat Raja on a point of order told Jameel that it has been a tradition of parliament that the quorum is not pointed out on the day of ‘general discussion’ on annual budget.

After sometime, Jameel made another attempt to point out lack of quorum and this time the deputy speaker had to adjourn proceedings for five minutes. Finally, the PTI succeeded in showing the required number of lawmakers.

The Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Mumtaz Ali, who was sitting on treasury benches, threatened the PTI that his party would lock down the city if the deprived people are not given basic facilities like health and education.

He said 70 percent population is drinking polluted water. Lamenting over non-existence of any college in Rahim Yar Khan he said: “Where should our children go? Is it not our right to send our children to colleges?” He also demanded revival of old fee structure for students.

The PTI’s legislators also applauded vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan for the country. Uzma Kardar, a ruling party lawmaker, acknowledged that prices had skyrocketed but said people will have to sacrifice to be able to stand on their feet. The deputy speaker later adjourned the house till October 22.

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