The session was preceded by a scuffle between PPP members Sajida Mir and Fauzia Behram, with Sajida seated right next to the chief minister. The chief minister however made no attempt to resolve the fight.
Kaira’s budget reading kicked off with extempore praise of President Asif Ali Zardari and his role in strengthening democracy in Pakistan. The remarks did not form part of the minister’s penned down speech. Prime Minister Gillani’s brother, Ahmed Mujtaba Gillani seated himself at an opposition bench and took his oath before Chaudhry Zaheerud Din pointed out the mistake. Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal was quick to come to the new MPA’s rescue and clarified that the member was sitting on Muttahida-Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) benches.
“Ahmed Mujtaba is new to the assembly and it is understandable that he did not know where to sit. He will be allocated a seat after he is administered the oath,” said Rana Iqbal.
Chaudhry Zaheerud Din criticised the assembly arrangements and demanded that Ahmed Mujtaba’s oath be administered again.
The opposition also complained about Abdul Qadir Gillani’s (the PM’s son) vehicle parked inside the assembly premises. They pointed out that the car was parked in the spot reserved for the speaker.
Four members elected including Ahmed Mujtaba Gillani, Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani, Ajmal Asif and Syed Basit Sultan were sworn in.
During the session various members constantly asked colleagues about proper parliamentary procedure until an apparently irritated speaker ordered the members to settle down and let the session continue.
Accusations, abuse and fist fights during assembly session
Ahead of the Punjab Assembly session on Monday, PPP legislators Sajida Mir and Fauzia Behram got into a scuffle that quickly turned to verbal abuse and culminated in a fist fight.
The argument started with Sajida Mir’s one-off comment that rigging was a common phenomenon at rural polling stations where women guided by feudal lords actively engaged in the activity.
The legislator then praised MPA Iffat Liaquat (PML-N) for her success in the Chakwal by-polls despite a heavy feudal influence in the constituency.
According to eyewitnesses, the comments infuriated Fauzia Behram who is a landowner from Chakwal. The senior PPP MPA lost her cool, allegedly called Sajida a ‘kammi’ with no knowledge of political dynamics in Chakwal.
Sajida retaliated and told Fauzia to refrain from using derogatory titles and humiliating PPP voters and members as the majority hailed from humble backgrounds.
She then asked Fauzia to resign from her seat for the alleged insult directed at PPP voters. She also hinted at the MPA’s history of switching political allegiance.
PPP members confirmed that at this point Fauzia got up from her seat, approached Sajida and slapped her across the face. Sajida then attempted to punch Fauzia and throw a flower pot at her. Both of them used non-parliamentary language until party members intervened to end the fight.
Speaking to members of the press after the PA session, Sajida Mir accused Fauzia Behram of threatening to get her killed by her driver, who already had 17 murder FIRs against his name.
Fauzia denied the allegations and stated that Sajida wanted her to join the ‘Naheed Khan’s camp’ as she actively campaigned for it.
Sajida replied by stating that she was a devoted PPP worker and had no ties with Naheed Khan. A staff worker of the Punjab Assembly received minor injuries during the legislators’ scuffle.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.
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