After fake degrees scandal of parliamentarians, now we find another scandal of our genius elected leaders, to mark their presence in the assemblies without being present by proxy. This was pointed out by our celebrated Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah during Punjab Assembly Session on Wednesday on 12th Jan. There were only 27 legislators in the House while the register showed marking of attendance of 50. This was found out when there was obviously a very thin attendance. One can imagine how difficult it would be in a house of 342 members in the National Assembly where an absence of about 100 members would not be felt, if all marked present by proxy. It is surprising that the new procedure as suggested by the deputy speaker of Punjab Assembly Rana Mashood Ahmed was resisted and protested by the honourable members as being humiliating. The new procedure required the placement of attendance register on the desk in front of the Deputy Speaker to avoid cheating or fraudulent activities by the members. This point was well debated on Thursday ( the next day). I think, the objection of the parliamentarians is uncalled for and unjustified as the proxy attendance of some members was proved on ground by the law minister. The protest by the members further proves that they have all the intentions to mark proxy attendance for their colleagues so that they are not deprived of TA/DA which comes to Rs 4000 to 5000 daily. I suggest the Speakers of other Assemblies and Chairman Senate to enforce this new method of placing the register in front of the deputy speakers instead of in the lobby. The Honourable members should not object to this if they qualify as members under section 62 and 63 of the constitution i.e honest and having good reputation. MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA, January 14.