Continuing protest tests ministers’ patience

Second consecutive day of the opposition’s protest against the government irked the treasury benches in Punjab Assembly on Tuesday with a minister threatening that no one would be allowed to speak if he was not heard silently.

Tuesday was the Private Members’ Day but no significant business was carried out except the adoption of a joint resolution condemning blasphemous caricatures and a statement given by the French president on the issue.

PML-N MPA Khalil Tahir Sandhu demanded a diplomatic boycott of the European country.

The atmosphere became tense when PPP parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza raised the issue of alleged torture on protesting farmers in Lahore by the police.

He said that the water mixed with a dangerous chemical was showered at the poor farmers who contributed to the economy.

“Almost 80 % employment in the country is associated with agriculture and it is really unfortunate that farmers were beaten up brutally,” said the lawmaker. He added that a senior police officer was found giving instructions to the force not to let the farmers approach the Mall Road and to stop them at any cost.

The PPP leader demanded a judicial commission to probe into the incident, adding that the farmers were only staging a peaceful sit-in.

He was of the view that farmers were not paid for their work sufficiently despite the fact that they were the backbone of the national economy. “Pakistan will be prosperous if our farmers are content,” said MPA Murtaza. The members also prayed for the deceased farmer.

Responding to the opposition lawmakers, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat said the police were not responsible for the death of farmer.

The remarks provoked the MPAs of opposition parties who arose from their benches and started shouting slogans against the government. They also surrounded the speaker’s dais.

The slogans infuriated the law minister, who said the opposition members should listen to the version of the government with patience.

“If we are disrupted like this then we’ll also stage a walkout,” threatened the minister.

A ruckus was witnessed in the House as members from both the treasury and opposition benches chanted slogans against each other.

Some key ministers were also seen raising slogans against the leadership of the opposition.

The situation left speaker with no option except to adjourn the session till Wednesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2020.