LAHORE – The Punjab Assembly (PA) on Thursday concluded its ongoing 23rd session and parliamentary year, as privilege motions were moved by members of the provincial assembly (MPA) against their female colleagues. All the three privilege motions were moved by treasury members against opposition MPAs including Samina Khawar Hayat of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) and Azma Zahid Bokhari of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). The movers were Sheikh Allauddin of the newly-formed Unification Bloc and Ghazala Rana of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The question hour session was in progress peacefully when PPP MPAs Shaukat Basra and Sajida Mir entered the house. Basra tried to speak on a point of order but when the chair did not allow him to speak, Sajida pointed out the quorum to disturb the House proceedings but treasury benches managed to ensure the quorum.
To avoid any such problem again, the chair asked Basra to speak on which the PPP MPA alleged that the treasury benches were violating the House traditions, as the opposition was on boycott and none of the treasury members had come for negotiations. He claimed that the committee formed by Speaker Rana Iqbal did not meet any opposition member. On Basra’s remarks, all the committee members confirmed that they not only held separate meetings with opposition MPAs but also assured them of full cooperation. They said that female opposition MPAs were ready to join the proceedings.
On this Shaukat Ashraf, instead of feeling guilty, said that the committee went to the opposition a day earlier but today (Thursday) none of them talked to the opposition. The opposition members left the House and did not attend the session until end of the proceedings. Interestingly, the treasury members also did not inform the House about the updates of their negotiations with the opposition.
Punjab Food Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor moved a resolution to declare 2011 as the year of Pak-China Friendship to further strengthen ties with the neighbouring country, which had always proved to be a well-wisher of Pakistan.
The resolution was moved and passed with the majority of voice votes. PML-Q’s Mohsin Khan Leghari moved a resolution demanding the federal government to withdraw the 17 percent tax imposed through an ordinance on agri-products including tractors, pesticides, fertilizers and seeds stating that the tax had cause price hike. The resolution was also passed by the members unanimously. Afterwards, the most important part of the proceedings took place when treasury members moved three resolutions against two opposition women legislators. Allauddin and Rana moved the privilege motions against Samina for using abusive language and throwing make-up equipment and some ‘objectionable stuff’ at Allauddin. Rana also moved another privilege motion against Azma.
She alleged that Azma also used abusive language in the House, which breached her privilege. The Punjab law minister supported the motions despite the fact that the speaker said that such moves should be practiced. Afterwards, the motions were referred to the privilege committee. Rana Sanaullah, responding to an adjournment motion to ban protests in front of the Punjab Assembly or at Mall Road, said that this is a serious issue. The House also passed four bills including the Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2011, Punjab Laws (Amendment) Bill 2011, Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2011 and the Qarshi University, Muridke Bill 2010. Afterwards, the session was adjourned for an indefinite period.
