MPA moves condemnation resolution over shoe, ink throwing incidents in PA

• Lack of quorum in assembly leads to adjournment of proceedings without pre-budget discussion

LAHORE: A condemnation resolution on Monday was moved in the Punjab Assembly against the shoe hurling and ink-throwing incidents that targeted former premier Nawaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, respectively.

According to the details, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Hina Pervez Butt presented the condemnation resolution. The resolution mentioned that the house condemned the two incidents in the strongest words.

It also said that “some powers feared the ever-increasing popularity of Nawaz” and this way of protest was not acceptable in a civilized society. It asserted that the incidents brought a bad name to Pakistan at the international level.

Earlier, the Standing Committee on Law and Justice presented its report on the Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018. The house granted a two-month extension to the Public Accounts Committee-I and the Standing Committee on Transport for the presentation of their reports.

As many as seven one out of 14 starred questions were answered during the proceedings while seven questions were disposed of due to the absence of concerned lawmakers. 15 supplementary questions were asked as well.

The Punjab Assembly speaker presided over the entire sitting while the deputy speaker was not present.

While the leader of the house did not attend the meeting, the leader of the opposition attended the sitting for 23 minutes. As many as 10 MPAs (3%) were present at the outset and 14 (4%) at the adjournment of the sitting. None of the parliamentary leaders were present during the proceedings, and as many as three minority lawmakers attended the meeting of the provincial assembly.

An independent lawmaker identified the quorum at 1556 hours that led to the adjournment of the proceedings without holding the pre-budget discussion.

The house was adjourned to meet again on Wednesday at 10 am.