Lawmakers, speaker keep govt on toes

LAHORE:

The governments traditionally come under fire from the opposition but the year 2021 presented a different look in Punjab Assembly with criticism also coming most of the time from the treasury benches.

In addition to some representatives of the ruling parties complaining against their own government over its policies and lack of funds in their areas, Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi also took it to task several times.

His attitude towards the PTI ministers and parliamentary secretaries appeared to be against their expectations from a leader of a coalition partner.

The ministers were upset several times after facing criticism over their unsatisfactory performance and answers to queries of opposition lawmakers.

The speaker adjourned the house twice after short proceedings when he observed that the assembly’s dignity had been compromised by the government.

The government had to surrender when Pervez Elahi took a strong stance over not including in the agenda the Punjab Emergency Council Bill relating to the rescue service as well as when the authorities avoided complying with his production orders for PTI’s arrested MPA Nazir Chohan in the assembly session.

“I will see how will any legislation of the government be passed by Punjab Assembly. Any bureaucrat should not act like a Tarzan. This is Punjab Assembly, not a jungle,” the speaker warned.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari and Panel of Chairpersons member Mian Shafi also criticised the government at some points.

Deputy Speaker Mazari grilled the government over absence of ministers from the assembly becoming routine.

Despite arguments between the treasury and opposition lawmakers, they also took a unanimous stance on some occasions. The resolutions unanimously passed included one submitted by PTI MPA Uzma Kardar for paying tribute to the armed forces.

'Record legislation'

While the provincial government claims to have made record legislation, the opposition lawmakers allege that 40% of the bills had been adopted by ignoring the due process and bulldozing the rules.

The opposition PML-N and PPP tried their best to give a tough time to the government in 2021, but their seven disgruntled MPAs requested the speaker to allot them separate seats from their party colleagues. Six of the MPAs belonged to PML-N and one to PPP.

In one interesting instance, the treasury bench members remained silent when Deputy Speaker Mazari called for voice vote on a resolution presented by a PML-N MPA. They were ostensibly busy gossiping or perusing their mobile phones.Technically the resolution was passed but Mazari sought re-voting and it was rejected despite the opposition's protest.

Two PML-N lawmakers were expelled from the assembly for a day over a strong reaction of treasury benches to their derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the provincial law minister. Panel of Chairpersons member Nawabzada Waseem Khan Badozai issued a ruling against MPAs Malik Arshad over his remarks against the prime minister and Mirza Javed for using derogatory language against Law Minister Basharat Raja. The decision stirred pandemonium in the house.

In addition to joining hands for national dignity, the treasury and opposition members collectively gave a strong message to the international community by observed silence for a minute and paid tribute to Siri Lankan citizen Priyantha Kumara who had been lynched by a mob in Sialkot.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2022.