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The opposition on Monday made good on its warning that they would not let the Speaker conduct any business if he did not nominate two Punjab MPAs to the commission the federal government has constituted to make recommendation on new provinces in the Punjab.
Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan tried his best to soothe the opposition but all his attempts were unsuccessful. The session that started with a delay of almost three hours had to be adjourned after about an hour.
Shortly after the session commenced, Leader of the Opposition Raja Riaz started the debate on a point of order, requesting the Speaker to nominate two MPAs from the house for the federal commission.
National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza had written a letter three weeks ago asking Khan to nominate two MPAs to the commission, which has been constituted to give recommendations on the formation of two new provinces: South Punjab and Bahawalpur. Mirza and the Senate chairman have already nominated six members each to the commission, which is now waiting for the PA Speaker legislature to nominate two members.
Riaz said that the speaker and treasury members had told him during a business advisory committee meeting that they would “never” comply with the request.
Khan said that he had replied to Mirza’s letter, asking that a national commission be constituted to decide on the creation of new provinces across the country, not just in the Punjab. The commission, he said, should include representatives from all four provinces and FATA. “I have asked the [National Assembly] Speaker not to focus on the formation of just two new provinces in the Punjab,” Khan told protesting opposition members who surrounded him.
Khan said that he had written to Mirza even though the letter had not been addressed to him – the letter was sent to the Punjab Assembly secretary by the National Assembly secretary. The opposition, however, was not convinced.
Khan then asked treasury members, especially those from South Punjab, to stand up and to protest against Mirza’s “bias”. At this point opposition members started shouting, “Janubi Punjab Zindabad, Bahawalpur Zindabad, Mian Brothers Murdabad.” [Long live South Punjab, Long live Bahawalpur, Down with Mian brothers]
PML-N’s Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor replied with: “Sala Mara, Bewi Mari, Hai Zardari, Hai Zardari, Go Zardari Go Zardari” to which PPP’s Shaukat Mehmoood Basra said: “Takhte Lahore Hai Hai, Agli Bari Phir Zardari.”
The shouting continued for about half an hour, after which Basra was allowed to speak on the issue. Basra said that the house had, on May 9, demanded the formation of the commission.
The demand was unanimous, he said, when the house had passed a resolution supporting the formation of two new provinces. The chief minister promised the people of Bahawalpur a new province when he visited the area, Basra pointed out, “now they have backed out of their commitment.”
Khan asked the members to wait for Mirza’s reply to his letter. He said he would take the next step after he received one.
PML-N’s Zaeem Hussain Qadri defended the Punjab government’s stand, saying that Mirza had “ignored the voices of the people of Hazara and FATA”.
The to-and-fro continued until Maghrib prayers. After a break, the opposition repeated its demand but was snubbed by the Speaker who said the matter was “between him and the National Assembly Speaker and none of the lawmakers’ business”. The opposition members, however, continued to thump their desks in protest.
PPP’s Ehsanul Haq Naulatia, rising on point of order, asked the Speaker said why he had taken so long to reply to which the Speaker replied, “I won’t be dictated by anyone.” Naulatia then pointed out the quorum and the session was adjourned till 9am on Tuesday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (2)
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Typical PML(N) strategy, they promised the people of South Punjab and Bhawalpur that they will work for creating the new province and there ego's are getting in the way. Shame on all those who are trying to stop ppl of South Punjab and Bhawalpur having there own province which is there fundamental right right. Why did Punjab assembly passed a resolution stating new provinces should be made of current Punjab province if they didn't want to create. It is indeed shameless tactics of PML(N) that has always refused to bow down to will of people. Same like when blocked the naming of Khyber Pakhtunhawa..
no division of Punjab acceptable .
Hazara is acceptable demand given name change from NWFP to KPK. But there is no such genuine movement in Punjab. This all politics of the corrupt two , Zardari and Gilani .