LAHORE - The Punjab Assembly witnessed a chaos on Thursday after the treasury not allowed the opposition to bring an out-of-turn resolution on recent increase in petroleum prices.

Amid sloganeering from both sides of the political divide, the chair adjourned the session till Friday (today) at 9am.

On a point of order, Opposition Leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed drew attention of the House towards recent increase in petroleum prices, saying the government has dropped POL bomb on the hapless masses. He said that the government was increasing prices of petroleum for the last six months. He claimed the prices have not increased that much in the international market. He demanded allowing out of turn resolution on the issue. He said that the masses should be saved from more humiliation.

Opposing the resolution, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said that the issue was relating to the federal government. He suggested the Opposition Leader to ask his party for raising the issue at National Assembly. He said that the Opposition show outside PA on January 17 caused more humiliation for the masses. He said that the Opposition withdrew resignations and Dr Tahir ul Qadri fled to London last days.

Infuriated by the remarks, the Opposition legislators stood up and started chanting slogans against the government. Their colleagues from the treasury paid them back in the same coin.

The rumpus led to adjournment of the session till Friday (today) at 9am.

Minister for Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu said that census results relating to the minorities have not so far shared with the stakeholders. He said that minorities were concerned over the indifferent attitude. He demanded sharing the results at the earliest so that minorities could take decision before coming elections.

PRI’s Sheneela Ruth said that there was separate column for minorities in the census forms. She said that results of all other segments have been shared with the only exception of minorities. She urged the government to take the issue seriously.

Rana Sanaullah Khan said that all households of minorities have been made part of census documents. He said that the election commission would soon share data with public at large. He said that the census results would not cause any change in the number of seats for minorities.

Earlier, the session started one hour and 10 minutes beyond the scheduled time with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in the chair.

During Question Hour on Social Welfare, Baitul Mall and Prisons, treasury legislator Tariq Mehmood said that some NGOs were carrying out dubious activities and the department was merely acting as silent spectator. He said that these NGOs were befooling the masses with decent names. He demanded action against these NGOs working for a specific agenda. The chair directed the department to take action against these NGOs.

To a question of Dr Nosheen Hamid, Minister Prisons Ahmed Yar Hanjra said that the government was setting up a new jail at Soye Asal. He said that construction of three new jails would be completed this year.