Punjab Opp moves resolution seeking PM’s resignation

Opposition parties on Tuesday unanimously submitted a resolution seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s immediate resignation in Punjab Assembly in its 21st session on Tuesday.

The joint resolution was presented by Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)member Sardar Shahab-ud-Din Khan, Pakistan Muslim League (PML)’s Sardar Waqas Hassan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Muhammad Sibtain Khan.

The resolution stated that PM Nawaz Sharif failed to answer opposition parties’ seven questions during his address to the National Assembly on Monday. The parties demanded the PM to resign on immediate basis so that the investigation into Panama Leaks can begin.

Leader of the Opposition Mian Mehmood ur Rashid, while talking to the media, said that it is better for the prime minister to answer the seven questions asked by the opposition parties in the parliament otherwise he must get ready to face street agitation.

“The situation has worsened after the address of the PM in the parliament and he must relinquish his office to ensure transparent enquiry”, he said.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the opposition was living in fool’s paradise as they are demanding 70 answers from the prime minister.

“Aitzaz Ahsan used to do the same by getting a hefty amount of fee in the past, and it seems he has received a handsome amount from a certain neighbouring country to make China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a failure, as India has invested a large amount in efforts to work against the project”, he said.

While commenting on Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed’s statement, he questioned why he doesn’t move a no-confidence motion in the parliament if he is confident that a forward block has been emerged in the PML-N.

The house adopted four resolutions urging the government to provide missing facilities to all rural health centres and basic health units, ensure free diagnosis, treatment and awareness of cervical cancer, curb the sale of substandard cotton seed and pesticides and take strict action against the producers and sellers of substandard drinks. The resolutions were moved by three different lawmakers belonging to the PTI.

The house deferred two resolutions while another two were dropped due to absence of relevant lawmakers.

The house deferred four matters of public importance raised during the zero hour while a matter regarding provision of jute bags was referred to the relevant standing committee.

The lawmakers spoke on 16 points of order consuming 28 minutes of the proceeding. A privilege motion of PML-N lawmaker was referred to the relevant committee.

Parliamentary Secretary for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Sajjad Haider Gujjar gave no satisfactory answer related to his department and the speaker ordered to refer two questions to the relevant committee.

“The 50 million population of Punjab will have access to the clean drinking water till 2018 under the Saaf Pani project of the Punjab government”, the parliamentary secretary said. He further added that the work in 10 districts has been started in the first phase under this project and its spectrum would be spread in the whole province.

KP delegation visits PA:

Earlier in the day, a 17-member delegation from the Khyber PakhtunKhawh (KP)’s assembly visited the Punjab Assembly and witnessed its proceeding. “It is the beauty of democracy that politicians hailing from different political parties meet each other despite their political difference”, law minister Rana Sanaullah said, while welcoming the KP delegation.

The delegation included MPAs Shaukat Yousafzai, Mehmood Khan, Shah Farman and Ali Amin Gandapur. The session was adjourned till 10.AM Wednesday.