Punjab Assembly likely to probe projects sidelined by PML-N

Elahi agrees to form committee of escalating costs of these initiatives

LAHORE: The tensions continued to mount between the treasury and the opposition with Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi throwing another spanner in the works.

During Tuesday’s session, Elahi assured Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat that a committee would be formed to identify the escalating costs of projects initiated his (Elahi’s) tenure as chief minister, but sidelined by the subsequent PML-N government, thus causing a loss to the national exchequer.

Basharat demanded that these projects be identified and blame pinned on the shoulders of those responsible for such circumstances.

The speaker appreciated Basharat’s proposal and said PML-Q had worked extensively on 47 colleges, but the Shehbaz government was not interested in completing them as they were “Elahi projects”. He said it was necessary to determine how much of a loss the Shehbaz Sharif government had caused over the last 10 years.

“If a committee is formed with the consent of this House, it will help to reveal the real governance benchmark of the Shehbaz government,” the Speaker asserted. Provincial law minster said he would move a motion on the matter.

Elahi seemed in no mood to waste any time and suggested that the minister move it on Tuesday’s session, but Basharat said it would be submitted on Wednesday (today). The speaker assured he would form a committee to probe the matter.

These developments came on the coattails of the speaker banning the entry of six PML-N MPAs who were allegedly responsible for causing destruction and mayhem in the house on October 16. In Monday’s session, Elahi also issued a warning to Opposition Leader Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, saying he (Elahi) would decide on how to conduct the assembly if the latter failed to attend House Committee Meetings.

As proceedings kicked off on Tuesday, Basharat moved a motion which sought the formation of a special committee over the privilege motion, presented on October 22, by six PTI MPAs including three women. They accused opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz Sharif of using derogatory language against the speaker, tarnishing the image of the house and damaging the assembly’s equipment.

Raja Basharat recommended that PTI’s Raja Yawar Kamal Khan (PP-25), Syed Yawar Abass Bukhari (PP-1), Muhammad Latasub Satti (PP-6), Ali Akhar (PP-99), Muhammad Ashraf Khan Rind (PP-279), Muhammad Raza Hussain Bukhari (PP-274), Umar Farooq (PP-106), Sardar Farooq Amanullah Dreshek (PP-295). Two PMLN’s legislators Zakia Shahnawaz (W-331) and Muzafer Ali Sheikh (PP-70) be made part of the committee. He also suggested two PMLQ’s lawmakers – Sajid Ahmed Khan (PP-67) and Muhammad Rizwan (PP-41).

Another resolution, presented by Minister for Public prosecution Chaudhary Zahiruddin, was passed with a majority against PML-N’s Nihal Hashmi for remarks against the armed forces. The resolution sought a case of treason against Nihal Hashmi, adding that the MPA was questioning the role of the armed force and ignoring its sacrifices.

Later, the treasury legislators started a “general discussion” on the annual budget for the year 2018-19.  They expressed gloom over the deprived sectors in their constituencies. The lawmakers said their constituencies were bereft of quality health, drinking water, sewerage, colleges, universities and even primary schools. They hoped the current government would take appropriate measures in this regard.

PTI’s Shahida Ahmed said women working in the fields and picking cottons or harvesting wheat could not be ignored. She cited examples of the Indian Ministry for Women Welfare and Child Development under which such women were registered and awarded a 100-day development work plan every year. “Allocate funds for them in the budget, Credit cards should be issued them on low interest and they should be registered like other countries.

The House was adjourned till 11am on October 24 (today).