Deadlock over Sharif's appearance in PA remains sticking point

PPP walked out of the assembly to protest lack of cooperation from treasury benches.

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly (PA)’s 33rd session which for the last 10 days had witnessed pandemonium over various issues, on Monday has been prorogued without concluding the debate over PIC fiasco as both opposition and treasury benches did not budged from their stance over the issue of arrival of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the house.

The PA after two days break, resumed proceedings on Monday afternoon, at around 4.30pm, an hour and a half late from its scheduled 3pm. Nothing on the day’s agenda was taken up as the opposition and treasury benches resumed their quarrels with each other over Shahbaz Sharif.

Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood, who chaired the house, tried in vain to run the proceedings of the house. Unable to make the house focus on the agenda, he prorogued the session.

Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz, on a point of order said that Punjab Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and the Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal had promised on Friday that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would appear before the house on Monday and conclude the debate about the PIC fiasco. With the CM nowhere in sight, Riaz said that it was regrettable that Sharif had failed to appear before the house, while the treasury benches, instead of condemning the chief minister for not honouring his commitment, were laughing with the CM shamelessly.

He said that the treasury benches, through their obstinate attitude had forced the opposition to move a privilege move against Rana Sanaullah and the Chief Minister.

Sanaullah confirmed that he had made a commitment with Riaz, that if he delivered his speech in the house over PIC fiasco, then leader of the house, Shahbaz Sharif, would come before the house and present his reply. He said that unfortunately Riaz did not deliver his speech on Friday, hence the chief minister could not come in the house just to reply to trivial speeches presented in the previous session.

Rana reached out to Riaz, that if he presented his speech on Monday, then the chief minister will come in the house and reply to his speech. Both, however, failed to move forward from their stated stances.

As a tit for tat Riaz insisted that he could not deliver his speech before Sanaullah did, while latter alleged that Riaz could simply not muster a speech since he could not continuously speak for five minutes. This back and forth continued for 30 minutes.

PML-N’s MPA Saeed Akbar Niwani stated that house rules do not force either the chief minister or any member to be brought in to the house forcefully. He suggested Riaz ought to start his speech, while the parliamentary secretary on health would conclude the debate.

PPP MPA Ashraf Sohna said that everyone should ponder why Shahbaz Sharif in his speech has said that he could, under oath, disclose the names of conspirators who deliberately asked the foreign experts to leave the country. He said that if the chief minister does not come in the house then all the members of the house should know that Sharif had dishonoured the house, choosing other platforms to speak of tragedies in Punjab.

He said that Sharif should inform the house that why he has expressed his interest to speak before the court and what relationship he has with the courts.

PML-N Zaeem Qadri said defended Sharif, saying the CM had often fought for the supremacy of the house. He warned Sohna to refrain from pointing fingers over the credibility of the judiciary. He said that PPP, just for its interests was maligning the courts which could be dangerous for the country.

Sanaullah, again stood up from his seat and exhorted Raja Riaz to start his speech, claiming the chief minister would conclude the debate in this session or in next session, hinging on Riaz finishing his speech.

In response, Riaz set forth another condition, that if the session did not prorogue, he would start his speech. However, the deputy speaker informed him that the governor had sent a summary in writing for proroguing the session. Riaz said that if the health minister could be brought in to the house, then he would commence his speech, though his demand too was not fulfilled.

PPP, protesting this, walked out from the house. PPP MPA Sajida Meer pointed out the lack of quorum, following which the speaker prorogued the session.

It is pertinent to mention that government succeeded in fulfilling its agenda for the session. It managed to re-pass 28 bills from the house which the Punjab governor had sent back to the house.