LAHORE - Showing lack of interest in public issues, both sides of political divide in the Punjab Assembly wasted another day as the House turned into a fish market due to rumpus of the Opposition MPAs.
The Punjab Assembly session on Friday started under the chair of Acting Speaker Sher Ali Gorchani. Soon after the proceedings started, Opposition MPA Ahsan Riaz Fatiana pointed out the quorum as only 42 members were present in the House while minimum 94 members were required. On this, Gorchani adjourned the session for next 30 minutes.
As the session again started, PTI, PPP, PML and JI MPAs led by Opposition Leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed started shouting slogans and encircled the Speaker’s desk. The opposition MPAs also tore the agenda copies into pieces. Some female members of the PTI also brought whistles and started making noise by blowing it in the House.
Following the situation, female members of the treasury benches also started chanting slogans and raised placards inscribed with slogans against the PTI. On this, Gorchani tried to pacify the MPAs both from the treasury and opposition. He also repeatedly asked the opposition members not to tear the assembly agenda copies.
Anyhow, the assembly business — the Question Hour on Environment Protection Department—remained continued amid the rumpus. Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada answered queries regarding environment. However, opposition MPAs did not take part in the proceedings and continued chanting slogans against the government and acting speaker. On the first supplementary question about the progress of his department, he did not respond but started lauding Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for inking an agreement with China for Orange Line Metro Train Project.
On this irrelevant answer, the opposition started protest and chanting slogans like ‘Fake democracy must close’, ‘Fake proceedings must close’, ‘Fake mandate unacceptable’, ‘Friends of America are traitors’ and ‘Go Gorchani Go’.
When the treasury members criticised the opposition for tearing the agenda copies bearing holing names, the opposition MPAs started chanting religious slogans like ‘Allah-o-Akbar’.
After the question hour, the acting speaker requested the opposition to take part in the debate on law and order as it was put on agenda on the request of opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed. But, the opposition members did not accept the request.
Later on, Gorchani adjourned the session till Monday at 3 PM.
NAWAZ SHOULD VISIT INDIA, SAYS SANAULLAH
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said in his opinion Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif should visit India in response to the invitation sent to him by nominated Indian PM Narinder Modi ,however, the final decision in this regard has to be taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While talking to media men outsider the Punjab Assembly Chamber here on Friday, the Law Minister said, he thinks there is no harm if PM Nawaz Sharif goes to India to attend the swearing in of Modi.
However, the final decision in this regard is with the Foreign Ministry, he added.
To a question he advised PTI Chairman Imran Khan to give up chasing dreams and live in the real world.
He said a year has gone by since elections took place but Imran Khan is still harping on the tune of election rigging which was an unrealistic approach of mind.
He also lamented that the Opposition has no other agenda but that of dharna ,adding, this time round people would not be duped by PTI tactics.
He said the PML-N victory in Narowal by-election must be an eye opener for the PTI.
He said that PTI is going to spend Rs 200 million on Faisalabad rally and asked Imran Khan to have pity on people and divert this amount for public welfare.