LAHORE – The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution to ensure women rights as provided by Islam to lessen violence. Opposition member Humaira Awais Shahid moved the resolution, in which she stated that incidents of violence against women were on the rise and one of the reasons for such violence was denial to women rights as provided by Islam. Some treasury members opposed the motion, which though was passed through voice voting.
The second resolution moved by Mehr Ishtiaq, a treasury member, was pended on the mover’s request. The resolution was about alleged handing over of the profitable routes of PIA to Turkish Airlines.
The third resolution moved by Haji Zulifqar Ali about the provision of uniform allowances to the government employees was withdrawn by the mover. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, opposing the resolution, said the government paid allowances according to law.
The forth resolution moved by Sardar Khalid Saleem Bhatti was rejected through voice voting. The mover demanded the provincial government to pay special pays and allowances as being paid by the federal government.
The house unanimously passed the fifth resolution moved by Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti about the immediate construction of interchange between Sarmuradwali and Sahianwali at Chinniot, so that farmers could access markets and students could also reach school in time.
Proceedings started 25 minute late than scheduled because Parliamentary Secretary Zafar Iqbal Nagra, who had to respond to queries, met an accident and got late. However, soon after the recitation of the Quran and Naat, PA Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal consulted Sanaullah, who suggested the chair to suspend the rules and take up the adjournment motions and while parliamentary secretary reaches the assembly. The chair then took up adjournment motions but the opposition member Mohsin Khan Leghari, on a point of order, said verbal permission was not enough to suspend the rules. He said the law minister had to move a motion which after being accepted will allow the speaker to suspend rules. Senior parliamentarian Saeed Akbar Niwani said that speaker had the power to suspend rules but proper procedure should have been adopted.
However, the PA Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood said none of the members could challenge the PA Speaker’s acts. He also informed the house that the speaker did what was appropriate. He also asked the members to stop disgracing the chair. Niwani assured ‘we all respect the chair’ but the question hour session was an essential part of the proceedings. Rana Mashhood replied, “We should appreciate the efforts initiated to ensure proceedings instead of making points on it.”
Responding to an adjournment motion about the over crowded prisons, the law minister informed the house that 14 prisons were under construction at different parts of the province, which will help manage the issues relating to the shortage of space for prisoners. Responding to another adjournment motion about blasphemous material being used at Fauji Foundation School System, he said this matter should not be brought in the house.
On a point of order, opposition member Mohsin Khan Leghari drew the attention of the house to constitution’s violation that according to him was being committed in the house. He said that according to the NFC award the reports should be laid in the house but unfortunately this exercise was missing. On this the deputy speaker said that this point was valid but as the finance minister was not present in the house so he will be asked to clear the government position on this issue.
Treasury member Fauzia Behram, on a point of order, said her colleague Ijaz Ahmad Kahloo drew the attention of the house over the increasing number of robberies and murder at Sargodha, but this issue was not responded by the law minister. She said, “I am a senior member of the house and felt unfair when the issue raised by the respected member was ignored.” On this the law minister said he had taken notes and if the mover will come to him at his chambers he will seek reply from the concerned authorities as well.
PML-Q forward block MPA Najaf Sial on a point of order drew the attention of the house over the issue of non payment of TA/DA to the members who did not attend the last day of the sitting. He said that this decision should be revised as the members could miss session. He said one day deduction should be made instead of three days and if the member informed the house about his absence, then his ‘absence’ should be considered as ‘presence’. Rana Mashhood said such issues should be discussed in the speaker’s chambers instead in the house. After the completion of the agenda the chair adjourned the house till Wednesday morning.
