LAHORE - If the proceedings of Punjab Assembly’s Thursday sitting are any indication, the issue of Khatm-e-Nabuwat does not seem to be over in the biggest House of the biggest province.

Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal yesterday showed indifference to a suggestion by PML-N MPA from Gujrat Rana Imran Zafar who asked him to fix a day to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi in the House.

On a point of order, the legislator spoke for around two minutes emphasising the need for such an arrangement in connection with the auspicious day.

The motive behind this proposal was to show legislators’ immense love and respect for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and to reaffirm their unflinching faith in the finality of His Prophethood.  

Nonetheless, the Speaker seemingly ignored his plea as he moved on to the next item on the agenda without making any commitment. Also, the mover did not press his point any further most probably under the illusion the Speaker might consider his request some other day.    

Later, after the question hour, another ruling party MPA from Lahore, Muhammad Waheed Gull rushed towards the Opposition benches holding a piece of paper in his hands. He seemed to be in a great hurry. Gull went straight to an independent MPA Ehsan Riaz Fatyana with the request that he should not point out lack of quorum because he was going to take up an important issue in the House.

Young Fatyana is notorious for pointing out lack of quorum in the House.

If counted, he would be found involved behind 90 per cent cases of House’s adjournment in a year. Though he sits on the Opposition benches, but he is not bound to toe the policy of the Opposition because of his independent status in the Assembly. Fatyana agreed and honored his words.

The Chair did not notice Gull’s transgression as he was listening to other members speaking on points of order.

But, in the meanwhile, Nabila Hakim Ali of the PTI threw spanner in the work by inviting Chair’s attention towards an inaccurate House.

Since the government did not have sufficient numbers to keep the House in quorum, the Speaker adjourned the sitting after a mandatory wait of five minutes.

As it was not humanly possible to listen to the whisper inside the House while sitting in the Press Gallery, this scribe got hold of Waheed Gull as he came out of the House. He was holding a copy of a resolution which he wanted to move out of turn.

It had the signatures of some of the ruling party MPAs including Abul Hafs Muhammad Ghayasuddin, Al-Haaj Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti and Haji Imran Zafar. Mr Gull wanted the Assembly to pass a resolution urging the Federal and provincial governments to introduce a compulsory subject of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat” in the curriculum to inculcate the faith on the finality of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) in the adolescent minds of the students.

Lamenting over non-serious attitude of the lady who had pointed out lack of quorum, Mr Gull said it was an important matter which should be taken by the Assembly at the earliest. He vowed to move his resolution on some other day.

Gull also confirmed he had requested Mr Fatyana not to point out the quorum at this particular time.