Punjab Assembly: Cabinet’s absence irks Rasheed

Two ordinances had to be put off due to absence of relevant ministers

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly’s session on Wednesday was marked by the absence of ministers because of which the introduction of two ordinances had to be put off for the second time this week.

The Ghazi University Dera Ghazi Khan (Amendment) Ordinance 2015 and the University of Okara Bill 2015 were placed in the pending list once again. They were put off on Monday after the Opposition pointed out the quorum. On Wednesday, the Opposition staged a walkout in protest against the absence of the provincial cabinet.

The session began late and soon broke for a 10-minute recess for Minister of Agriculture Farrukh Javed who was on his way to the Assembly.

Responding to various questions, Javed said that farmers in the province hadn’t received a fair price for their crops over the years. “Our government gave flood-affected farmers Rs10,000 per acre compensation.”

Though the House wanted to extend the discussion on pricing, Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, who was chairing the session, said a separate session would be held for the debate.

A heated argument later broke out over a response to an adjournment motion regarding the alleged lack of medical facilities at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology. Aamir Sultan Cheema said that the relevant department should acknowledge a paucity of medical facilities for financially disadvantaged patients. Gorchani intervened saying that the PIC was overburdened with patients, however, a new emergency ward would soon be set up to cater to their needs.

Mian Aslam Iqbal delivered a diatribe on the government’s lack of interest in addressing the PIC’s problems. He said several patients at the hospital were forced to share beds and several instances of patients getting IV transfusions on the floor or sitting on chairs had been reported.

He said several patients in need of prompt medical attention had been placed on a five-year-long appointment sheet. “Other than building the Metro Bus and bridges all over Lahore, the government has done little in terms of addressing issues that trouble citizens.”

The comment drew the ire of treasury benches. Mian Tariq Mehmood challenged Iqbal to visit the PIC and to observe the situation there himself.

The issue resurfaced after Sheikh Alauddin introduced an adjournment motion saying several public hospitals in Lahore were in a poor state. He said patients had been left to the mercy of quacks. The Opposition welcomed the adjournment motion.

Khadija Umar moved an adjournment motion over financial irregularities, under investigation, at the Punjab Arts Council.

Leader of the Opposition Mehmoodur Rasheed pointed out the absence of ministers and asked the speaker to make their attendance mandatory. Gorchani told him that the ministers were occupied with an in-session cabinet meeting. Rasheed said he was disappointed that a cabinet meeting had been called while the House was in session.

Zaeem Qadri said the Opposition was justified in demanding that ministers be present during House proceedings, especially ministers of departments lined up for the question hour. He urged the Speaker to take notice of the issue.

Gorchani said the ministers’ absence had prevented the ordinances from being introduced in the Assembly even though they had been on the agenda.

Later speaking to the media, Rasheed said the Opposition had lined up an important resolution to be presented out of turn but they had been unable to do so. “We waited for over an hour for ministers to show up to the Assembly, but the only one who did attend the session left as soon as the question hour was over.”

He said this was indicative of lack of respect for the House and elected members.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2015.