MPAs lament neglect of mother tongue

Punjab Assembly opposition members argued on Tuesday that continued neglect of the Punjabi language had contributed to moral decline and the spread of extremism in society.

They criticised discrimination against Punjabi language, arguing that lawmakers routinely listened to speeches delivered in Urdu and English without objection, but resistance emerged as soon as a member began speaking in his or her mother tongue.

At one point, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had to strongly assert the supremacy of parliament, reminding the ministers that they were accountable to the assembly and should first acquaint themselves with its rules before asking him to visit government offices.

The remarks came after Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique invited him to visit the Suthra Punjab programme headquarters to understand the department's working.

Rejecting the invitation, the speaker reminded the minister that parliamentary oversight required ministers and officials to answer before the house, not the other way round, and remarked that it appeared that some cabinet members still needed to study the assembly's rules.

"It seems your cabinet also needs to study the assembly rules," Speaker Khan remarked, urging ministers to change their mindset regarding parliamentary accountability.

The assembly, which met after a delay of three hours, entered the fifth day of the budget debate amid heated exchanges among the speaker, treasury and opposition members over parliamentary procedure, governance and the provincial budget.