Brawl in Punjab Assembly deepens rift

Opposition, treasury trade barbs over scuffle, security breach

LAHORE:

Tensions between treasury and opposition lawmakers appeared to have reached a boiling point on Tuesday after an alleged assault by an opposition MPA on a treasury member, followed by tit-for-tat retaliation by private guards of treasury lawmakers against opposition MPAs.

As House proceedings got underway on Tuesday under the chair of Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer, both treasury and opposition benches stood united in calling it the darkest day in the assembly's recent history, though each side painted a different villain.

The treasury benches laid the blame squarely on the opposition's shoulders, accusing its members of initiating the clash, while the opposition pointed fingers at the private guards of treasury lawmakers, accusing them of storming the assembly and attacking opposition MPAs.

Treasury members likened the opposition's behaviour to a replay of the May 9 chaos in the Punjab Assembly, accusing them of fanning disorder. The opposition, in turn, charged the treasury with creating panic by unleashing private muscle inside the House.

Deputy Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz demanded swift action, calling for an immediate suspension of PML-N's Khalid Hassan Riaz, registration of an FIR against the private guards accused of physically assaulting opposition lawmakers and hurling abusive language and suspension of the assembly's chief security officer for failing to stop the guards' entry into the premises.

Defending the treasury's position, Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman claimed that MPA Hassan Riaz was addressing the chair when opposition lawmakers began heckling him and subsequently attacked him.

He acknowledged that the incident inside the Media Hall warranted a proper investigation.

However, he maintained that if FIRs are to be filed against those accused of attacking the opposition, cases should also be registered against the opposition MPAs responsible for sowing anarchy within or outside the assembly chambers.

However, in the blame game, the opposition appeared to hold the upper hand, building its argument around the involvement of private guards in the scuffle and the suspension of its MPA, Sheikh Imtiaz, who had merely pointed out the lack of quorum.

While treasury lawmakers repeatedly denounced opposition MPA Khalid Nisar Dogar's assault on treasury MPA Hassan Riaz and accused Sheikh Imtiaz of using abusive language toward Acting Speaker Channer, the opposition brushed aside the allegations, insisting the matter was strictly within the four walls of the House. They argued, how could private hooligans be allowed to attack lawmakers? The opposition also rejected the claim that Sheikh Imtiaz had hurled any abusive remarks, maintaining that the scuffle was triggered by PML-N's Hassan Riaz, who allegedly used inappropriate language first.

However, Acting Speaker Channer assured the House that strict punishment would be given if an attack by any private individual was proven.

Treasury lawmaker Hassan Riaz boycotted House proceedings over the nomination of opposition MPA Mian Ijaz Shafi to the committee formed to investigate the attack by private individuals. He also demanded the suspension of Shafi, claiming he was the actual cause of the scuffle.

Meanwhile, treasury lawmaker Amina Perveen raised concern over the delayed delivery of traffic challans. She denounced that people receive outdated challans at home rather than receiving them in time.