LAHORE – Women members of the provincial assembly (MPA) from both the treasury and opposition benches staged a walkout from the Punjab Assembly (PA) session over non-allocation of development funds accusing the Punjab government of gender discrimination and humiliating their mandate.
Issue of non-provision of funds to female legislators remained under discussion in the House and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPAs also boycotted the House proceedings to register their protest after realising that the Punjab government seems least bothered in providing them funds and adopting delaying tactics.
Women MPAs also staged a protest at stairs of the PA and chanted slogans. House proceedings started just five minutes late under Speaker Rana Iqbal’s chair and the question hour started. After the question hour, PPP MPA Saghira Islam, on a point of order, drew attention of the House over issue of non-provision of funds to women MPAs. She said that the provincial law minister always made false promises in this regard and for the last three years, the Punjab government is adopting delaying tactics on this serious issue.
Sanaullah, on a point of order, said that he respects women legislators but “I want to correct Saghira Islam, as I have never made any promise to her so from where did the question of false promise arise”. He said that development funds are not a right or privilege of any MPA. Sanaullah said that elected members have the privilege to point out the issues relating to their respective constituencies. This is up to the House to decide to whom the funds should be provided, he added. Sanaullah said that the Punjab CM has formed a committee to look into this issue.
Saghira could not control herself and on a point order questioned the law minister that which committee he is talking about and where it existed. “I am not taking the funds to my home, as this will mean taking money to the grave”, she said adding that “We are all answerable before God for our responsibilities.” She also informed the House that when ever women MPAs asked about the funds, they were told to bring schemes and when schemes were presented the Punjab government, the provincial government said that the funds have ended. The PPP MPA said that funds to women legislators are being provided in the National Assembly (NA) and other provincial assemblies as well.
Women legislators started chanting slogans in favour of their demand. The House echoed with slogans but treasury members remained silent. PPP MPA Hassan Murtaza, on a point of order, said that if the Punjab government is not interested in providing funds to women MPAs, then they should be informed about it. He asked the speaker to form a committee in which Sanaullah should not be included. Punjab Social Welfare Minister Neelam Jabbar said that women MPAs become a part of the House after a process and they should not be treated like this.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Sanaullah Masti Khel, who never misses a chance for point scoring, stood up and said that he offered inauguration of development projects to women MPAs in their respective names. His words added fuel to fire and PPP MPAs, supported by the opposition, termed his remarks as “humiliation”.
Sanaullah again to control the situation and on a point of order said that no one is denying services of women legislators and it was result of their services that they were selected on reserve seats. He said that women legislators should consider the entire province as their constituency and present development schemes.
On this, women MPAs boycotted the proceedings and left the House. They gathered at the assembly stairs and staged a protest and chanted slogans Sanaullah. The law minister urged the speaker to form a five-member committee under Jabbar’s chair to look into the matter. Iqbal accepted his suggestion and asked Jabbar to bring back protesting women MPAs. The minister succeeded in bringing back the protesting MPAs, after which proceedings resumed and the session was adjourned until today (Thursday).
