Govt conduct in Punjab PA riles up opposition

PTI lawmakers accuse treasury of ignoring parliamentary rules


Rana Yasif January 22, 2025
The Punjab Assembly session. SCREENGRAB

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LAHORE:

Opposition lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly staged a protest against the government, accusing it of passing a dozen bills in a single session without maintaining adequate quorum.

Despite the Opposition pointing out the lack of quorum, the government continued proceedings, leading to a walkout by the Opposition members.

Holding placards and chanting slogans in favour of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, the Opposition expressed their displeasure with the government's disregard for parliamentary rules.

On January 20, PTI lawmakers highlighted the absence of the required number of treasury members, claiming only 52 were present in the House. However, the government pressed on with legislative business, ignoring their objections.

During the same session, treasury lawmaker Raja Shaukat Bhatti protested before Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channer after being denied permission to discuss public concerns regarding broiler chicken prices.

Bhatti criticised the bureaucracy and deputy commissioners, accusing them of issuing arbitrary price controls from their offices and unfairly penalising shopkeepers.

Efforts to ensure timely assembly proceedings have also fallen short.

Despite Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan's repeated directives to start sessions on time, proceedings were delayed by one to two hours, with the exception of a Friday session. Both treasury and Opposition members have voiced dissatisfaction over these delays, but attempts to address the issue through chief whips have been ineffective.

During the question-answer session, Minister for Baitul Maal and Social Welfare Sohail Shoukat Butt highlighted the government's social welfare initiatives, including the care of destitute women and children at Darul Falah centres, the distribution of 45,000 Himmat Cards to deserving individuals, and the provision of assistive devices worth Rs1 billion to 30,000 persons with disabilities.

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