The opposition criticised Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif in the Punjab Assembly over the disclosure of Younas Habib in Mehran Bank. Meanwhile, treasury benches defended their leaders over the issue by criticising President Asif Ali Zardari in return and asking the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader to bring back the money from Swiss banks. The opposition, on the other hand, walked out of the House for not allowing them to express their views on the Mehran Bank episode.
The PA session started with a two-hour delay under the chair of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal. After the Question Hour, opposition leader in Raja Riaz Ahmed spoke on point of order and divulged Younas Habib’s admission in the Supreme Court (SC) about the fact that he had given Rs 3.5 million to Nawaz and Rs 2.5 million to Shahbaz to end the government of Benazir Bhutto. He said that these politicians should seek an apology from the nation for their ill-doings. “The real faces of these politicians have been revealed to the nation and now they should come to the House and apologise,” he said. These remarks irked the treasury benches and in lieu of talking about the principal stand, almost all the members of the treasury benches started castigating President Zardari and the current government. PPP lady MPA Sajida Mir requested the treasury members to listen to the opposition leader saying, “You (treasury members) never like to listen to the truth and create unnecessary hue and cry,” she added.
In the treasury benches, it seemed that one and all wanted to show their loyalty and love for the Sharif brothers by creating as much racket as possible to divert the issue. “You should return the money of the Hajis!” demanded PML-N MPA Ali Asghar Munda. “You should return from the Swiss banks!” exclaimed PML-N MPA Abdul Razzak Dhilon.
In order to downplay the crimes of their leaders, the treasury members started shouting ‘Go Zardari Go’. The opposition members also chanted ‘Zalmo hisab do paiso ka hisab do’. The opposition walked out of the House in protest citing the fact that their leader wasn’t allowed to speak.
Meanwhile, Tahir Khalil Sindhu started a speech on women issues, but the opposition member Khalid Javed pointed out the quorum and the session was adjourned till Monday 3pm.
