Punjab Minorities Minister Kamran Michael, who has additional charge of the finance ministry, presented the Punjab Budget 2011-12 amid rumpus in the Punjab Assembly (PA) on Friday.
The situation calmed down within minutes as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) adhered to the directions given by its leadership not to create uproar during the budget session. But some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) members of the provincial assembly (MPA) created an ugly scene by over reacting to an unexpected gesture by Punjab Opposition Leader Raja Riaz.
The PPP leader tried to garland Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif for ending his eight months’ absence from the assembly but PML-N MPAs started scuffling with PPP members, which created uproar for 15 minutes. During the scuffle, PA Speaker Rana Iqbal requested the treasury and opposition members to calm down on which the situation was controlled as the PPP did not disrupt the session.
The situation became tense when Riaz tried to garland Shahbaz but was stopped by some PML-N MPAs. Treasury members tore the garland. Some members even tried to physically attack each other. Interestingly, Shahbaz kept put a brave face on it and kept smiling. PPP MPA Sajida Mir tried to hit some treasury members, at which PML-N MPA Mastikhel tried to hit others with a camera tripod but was stopped by his colleagues. Some opposition MPAs snatched the budget document from Michael and tore it.
Riaz first stepped towards Michael and tried to garland him but suddenly turned his attention towards Shahbaz. PML-N MPAs Waris Kallu and Zaeem Qadri stopped the opposition leader resulting in scuffle. In the meanwhile, Michael continued his budget speech until the atmosphere became peaceful. After presenting the budget, he became the first minister belonging to a religious minority to present a budget in an assembly in the 63-year-old history of the country.
After the budget speech, Shahbaz felicitated Michael for presenting a balanced budget and patted his back. Later, all treasury members greeted Michael for the successful presentation of the budget amid the opposition’s attempts to shake his confidence and patience. Earlier, when the proceedings started, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Parliamentary Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin demanded the chair issue production orders for PML-Q MPA Chaudhry Moonis Elahi to let him attend the budget session. The chair, responding to the point of order, said that only the National Assembly (NA) could issue such orders for members of the National Assembly (MNA).
Speaking on a point of order, Riaz hailed Shahbaz’s return to the house after a long absence adding that the leader of the House has put an end to his annoyance with the assembly. Iqbal announced that any member who wished to take part in the budget debate and present any suggestions could give the proposals and his name to the assembly secretary. Afterwards, the house was adjourned until Monday morning.