While demanding the removal of the liquor permit stigma from the Christian community, opposition members of the Punjab Assembly also called for a test of MPAs on Wednesday.
The matter of issuing liquor permit to the community was highlighted by PML-N’s Khalil Tahir Sindhu. Responding to him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja said the non-Muslims did not belong only to the Christian community and the permits were also issued to foreigners.
He said the PML-N had the federal government so MPA Sindhu should ask the prime minster to do something about the matter. Reacting to the remarks, PML-N lawmakers demanded the minister’s liquor test.
Speaker Sibtain Khan asked whether the government could ask someone for the test, at which PML-N MPAs Sindhu and Tariq Masih Gill reached near his dais and said they were ready for their test.
Another PML-N MPA said they had no objection if the word ‘non-Muslim’ was expunged from the liquor permit. Minster Basharat Raja challenged if their community would back the MPAs if they moved a bill on the private members’ day.
The PML-N lawmakers had asked what measures the government was taking to curb the easy availability of drugs and liquor at different points in the province, including outside hotels.
MPA Sindhu demanded withdrawal of the liquor permits issued to the Christian community.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers unanimously passed a resolution for giving subsidy to the farmers to cope with an expected shortage of food.
The seeds, electricity, agricultural medicines should be subsidized for the farmers, the resolution presented by PTI’s Taimoor Ali added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2022.
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