Punjab has become a 'living hell' for minorities: PML-Q MPA

MPA Shahzad Elahi says the government of Punjab has made the demolition of churches its mission.

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League –Quaid (PML-Q) MPA Shahzad Elahi, speaking during the Punjab Assembly session on Friday, said the province had become a ‘living hell’ for minorities.

Elahi, who has been elected on a non-Muslim minority seat, said that the government of Punjab had made the demolition of churches its mission. He condemned the demolition of a 20 kanal portion of a church located in Garhi Shahu.

He said that the white on Pakistan’s flag gave minorities the right to live peacefully and speak for themselves.

The MPA said that the Bible had been desecrated during the demolition and the glasses of the church had also been smashed. The MPA termed January 10 “the darkest day in the history of Pakistan”, and said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had also given surety that the rights and property of the minorities would be protected in the country.

Elahi was cut short by the speaker, who asked him to bring some written element to the house so that the issue could be taken up. The MPA continued to speak at a raised volume and after a heated exchange with the speaker, pointed out the quorum in the house. He said that he would not allow the house to run smoothly unless the grievances of the Christians were addressed.

The speaker, counting the members, adjourned the session till Monday.

Lack of quorum

Only 26 members were present when Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan resumed the session on Friday.

The 33^rd session of the Punjab Assembly was adjourned due to a lack of quorum for the second consecutive day after the members of the treasury benches and ministers were found to be absent. The session had resumed at 10:38am, an hour and a half late from its scheduled 9am time.

The quorum has remained a major issue between the opposition and treasury benches for the last couple of weeks. The Punjab Assembly has so far called the session for a total of 62 days.

According to the Rules and Procedures of Punjab Assembly 1997, there is a requirement that a minimum of 93 members are to be present in the house to maintain the quorum. It is also pertinent to mention that the treasury bench has to maintain the quorum if it calls the session and the same for the opposition benches.

The opposition has called five sessions during the last four months and has failed to maintain a quorum as well.

The treasury benches have also faced criticism over the non-availability of its ministers in the house.