MPAs in verbal slugfest in Punjab PA

MPAs object to legislation related to private universities

LAHORE:

The treasury and opposition lawmakers remained at loggerheads over legislation related to private universities in Punjab Assembly on Wednesday.

A ruckus was caused in the assembly when a PML-N member said the numerous legislations were ‘irrelevant’ and PTI representatives termed the statement ‘anti-education’.

However, Speaker Sibtain Khan turned down a request by PML-N’s Sami Ullah Khan to constitute a committee for probing why an impression existed even amongst the owners of universities that favourable legislation could be obtained through unfair means.

The opposition MPA said PTI’s Higher Education Minister Raja Yasir Hamayun had also opposed such legislation earlier.

The speaker asked why the PML-N wanted to stop legislation on education.

PTI’s Zaheerud Din termed the stance of Sami Ullah anti-education.

Provincial Parliamentary Affairs Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja said the PML-N wanted the PTI to stop doing anything beneficial to the people.

He asked what remarkable work the PML-N had done for education.

Sami Ullah Khan contended that he had not said anything wrong and had just quoted what the PTI’s minister had stated and what view university owners had about legislation in the assembly.

Before the question answer session, the parliamentary affairs minister informed the house that a committee formed to stop delay in submission of replies and ensure submission of updated answers in time with accurate information had decided to do away with the questions asked in 2019 and 2020 whose replies had been made part of the assembly agenda this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th, 2022.