Opposition protests over delayed PA sessions for second day

For the second consecutive day, opposition lawmakers protested against the Punjab government's failure to start the assembly proceedings on time.

Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, responded by instructing the chief whips of both the treasury and opposition benches to ensure the attendance of their Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) so that the session could commence as scheduled.

Expressing his frustration, Speaker Khan noted that he had been waiting in his chamber for an extended period for the arrival of the MPAs to initiate the House proceedings.

Once the assembly finally began, opposition lawmakers raised their concerns with Speaker Khan, emphasising the negative implications of the ongoing delays and urging him to guarantee timely proceedings.

In response, Speaker Khan acknowledged the opposition's valid points and reiterated the importance of starting the House proceedings promptly. He once again directed the chief whips from both sides to ensure their MPAs' attendance in the House.

During the session, members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) raised questions regarding the deputy commissioner's authority in forming committees.

The discussion was sparked by a comment from PML-N parliamentary secretary for youth affairs and sports, Anas Mehmood, who referred to the deputy commissioner while addressing a query about sports.

Inquiring about the relevance of the deputy commissioner to sports matters, Speaker Khan prompted Mehmood for clarification.

The parliamentary secretary confirmed that the committees had previously been established and that the government was planning to introduce amendments to them.

PPP member Ali Haider Gillani also weighed in, stating that amendments are necessary to empower ministries, asserting that many functions are currently being handled by deputy commissioners.

He highlighted that all committees concerning the environment, forest, and sports are constituted by the deputy commissioners.