Opposition noisier but less effective in Punjab Assembly

To the extent of creating pandemonium in the Punjab Assembly, the opposition, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers, proved to be the noisier but were less effective in demonstrating their numerical strength.

It was rare that the most senior PML-N leaders had reached assembly. Khawaja Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique and others were present perhaps for the purpose of leading the parliamentary party meeting, making strategy in absence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza Shehbaz, or to see if the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was suspending rules about the “vote of confidence.”

According to a source the number of the PML-N lawmakers was not enough either in the parliamentary party meeting or during the assembly proceedings. He added there were around 150 of PML-N assembly members and only two Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers in the session.

In the assembly chamber, the number of the PML-N and the PPP lawmakers combined was 140. The leadership did not appear satisfied with the arguments in defence of the absentees. The PML-N leaders called another meeting by January 10 (today) before the house proceedings to ensure the satisfactory strength.

PML-N’s Azma Zahid Bukhari and Khalil Tahir Sindhu dispelled the impression that their number was insufficient, adding that there were 167 PML-N lawmakers, 4 independents and 5 from the PPP plus an angry lawmaker. The numbers meant the opposition had the strength of 177 during Monday’s proceedings.

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Azma Bukhari put the opposition strength at 176, saying that three were absent because of the health issues. However, she hastily added that it did not mean that they would not come on the voting day.

The task of the PML-N lawmakers was to halt the process of assembly business by all means necessary but they could not get the complete results of their efforts. The government was able to pass a record 21 bills without being bothered about the opposition’s conduct.

Some PML-N’s lawmakers moved towards the treasury benches when tempers flared, but returned to their desks after a timely intervention from Speaker Sibtain Khan. Most of the PML-N lawmakers sat on their chairs while some were in the field, seeking attention of their top leadership.

One thing was common between the treasury and the opposition benches – claims from each side about having the magic number of 186 lawmakers and the promise of giving “surprise” to each other on the day of the vote of confidence.

Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique and Rana Sana said that the PTI had not the required number, therefore, the vote of confidence was being delayed on one pretext or the other. They accused the PTI of hiding itself behind the courts.

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On the other hand PTI’s lawmakers Muhammad Basharat Raja, Fayazul Hassan Chohan, Mian Aslam Iqbal and others claimed that everyone would witness a surprise, if the court directed the chief minister to take the vote of confidence.

PTI source said that they did not see the matter going towards the vote of confidence. They added the only way to get the vote of confidence was when the court directed them to do so. They said the governor’s order was illegal and they did not accept it.