Opposition ‘reverses’ treasury session legislation

LAHORE:

'Legislation' to suspend and restore the powers of the Punjab Assembly secretariat continues in parallel sessions being held by the treasury and opposition members at different places.

The government had suspended some powers of the assembly secretary through legislation in its session at Aiwan-e-Iqbal a few days earlier.

Opposition lawmakers restored the powers on Tuesday through their own legislation. The move is aimed at empowering the assembly secretary to issue gazette notification of summoning or proroguing the house.

The opposition's assembly session was held at the premises of the legislature with Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in the chair.

The MPAs made some amendments to the Rules of Procedure, revoking the changes made by the government.

The amendments made in the Rules of procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab 1997 to once again empower the secretary were moved by Opposition Leader Sabtain Khan.

Earlier, the speaker suspended the question hour due to the absence of the minister and parliamentary secretary concerned as the government doesn’t own the session of the opposition. The opposition leader started a debate on the prevailing constitutional crisis, inflation and law and order situation in the province.

He said the Constitution was being bulldozed for past three months in Punjab and an illegal session was going on at Aiwan-e-Iqbal which was condemnable. Talking about inflation, he said it had become difficult for people to manage their household expenses with their income. He called for a detailed debate on the issue.

Later, Speaker Pervaiz Elahi adjourned the session till July 5. The opposition's house proceedings are chaired by the speaker, while the government's session is presided over by the Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari and the Panel of Chairmen at Aiwan-e-Iqbal.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2022.