The Punjab Assembly passed a resolution favouring musical concerts in educational institutes and 14 other bills which were returned by Punjab Governor Latif Khosa for reconsideration. The Treasury also assured that steps would be taken against those responsible for killing innocent people in the spurious drug case.
The Opposition demanded of the government to appoint a health minister since Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was holding multiple portfolios and that had caused many problems.
The PA session started with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal in chair. Opposition Leader Raja Riaz Ahmed moved a resolution in favour of musical concerts at educational institutes and the House unanimously passed it. Maulana Ilyas Chinioti of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz opposed the resolution and said that, “We should not allow obscenity and vulgarity on the pretext of promotion of cultural and extracurricular activities.” However, he walked out of the House when his views were not given attention and the resolution was passed.
Parliamentarian Secretary for Health Dr Saeed Elahi assured the assembly that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the deaths caused by spurious drugs.
“Amendments are being made in the procurement procedure of medicine in government hospitals with the aim of making it a foolproof system,” Dr Saeed said adding “Advance investigations found that these patients have bone marrow suppression leading low blood counts and bleedings,” he added.
He listed five drugs that were suspected of causing the problem in cardiac patients: Cardiovastation (Mega Pharma), Concont (Swiss Pharma), Isotab (Efroze Chemicals), Solprin (Pharmawise) and Atelnolo (Zafa Pharma). He said 28,000 cardiac patients had taken these medicines of which 451 were affected and 100 had died. At present, 218 patients with bone marrow suppression condition had been hospitalised.
PPP MPA Shaukat Basra said a health minister should be appointed so that people could be saved.
Earlier, the House readopted the remaining 14 bills that were sent back by the governor for reconsideration. All the 28 bills that were returned with objections were readopted without modification.
The Opposition benches opposed the move on the pretext that the Treasury benches were note following the proper procedure for passage of bills. Undeterred by their arguments, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah tabled the bills, which are: The Hindu Disposition of Property (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Hindu Law of Inheritance (Second Amendment) Bill 2011; The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Road Transport Workers (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Workers’ Children (Education) (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Bonded Labour System (Abolition) (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Agricultural Pesticides (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2011; The Punjab Conferment of Property Rights on Occupancy Tenants and Muqarraridars Bill 2011; The Punjab Local Government (Second Amendment) Bill 2011; The Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan Bill 2011; and The Punjab Public Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2011.
The law minister also tabled The Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2011, which was referred to the House’s standing committee.
The House also took up answer-question session on housing, urban development and public health engineering department, and call attention notices.
