Treasury, opposition trade barbs in PA

Opposition objects to treasury lawmaker's speech; session cut short

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly session on Friday was disrupted by intense uproar and ultimately adjourned after a treasury lawmaker delivered an impassioned tribute to Field Marshal General Asim Munir on his appointment as Chief of Defence Forces, remarks that sparked fierce protests from the opposition.

The sitting, chaired by Samiullah Khan from the Panel of Chairpersons, commenced nearly two hours behind schedule.

Tensions flared soon after the Question Hour when government MPA Ahsan Raza took the floor and launched into a charged speech praising General Asim Munir, declaring him a "national hero after defeating India" and crediting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif for appointing him to the top defence position.

Raza further accused the founder of the PTI of "working against Pakistan from inside jail," a statement that provoked loud resistance and slogans from the opposition benches.

Earlier, Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman responded to queries related to the Services & General Administration Department during Question Hour.

Treasury member Amjad Ali Javed also spoke, commending Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for introducing Punjabi as an instructional language in provincial educational institutions.