LAHORE – The Treasury faced harsh criticism from the opposition on Thursday over Raymond Davis’ release and the doctors’ strike, but managed to proceed with official business by tabling 6 bills in the house.
Opposition parties in the Punjab Assembly blamed the Punjab government for “ensuring the safe release of Raymond Davis” and asked why Law Minister Rana Sanaullah visited Kot Lakhpat Jail before Davis left the prison. Assembly proceedings began an hour late at 11am under the chair of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal.
Opposition Leader Raja Riaz expressed concern for Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, who was admitted to the hospital for a heart problem on Wednesday. Riaz requested that the speaker call the official cleric to offer special prayers for Sharif’s swift recovery. Senior Adviser to the Punjab CM Zulfiqar Khosa defended the Punjab government and told the house that not to make a joke out of Sharia Law.
Sanaullah said that a four-member house committee and a special committee headed by Sardar Zulfiqar Khan Khosa were negotiating with the representatives of the doctors who were on strike. Sanaullah told the house that the doctors had been assured that their demands for an increase in salaries would be met in the next fiscal budget of 2011-12.
He said that the doctors had been told that their demands would cost the government Rs 36 billion and the government was not in a position to do that immediately. Riaz said on a point of order that the PML-N did not have good relations with any political party and it could continue its “politics of anger” but it should look into the provincial departments seriously.
He also alleged that Health Secretary Fawad Ahmad Fawad was involved in billions of rupees worth of embezzlement but since he was the “apple of the chief minister’s eye”, no action against his wrongdoings had been taken. Riaz boycotted the proceedings to register his protest. Sanaullah replied that the PML-N could not beg the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) like the Pakistan People’s Party again and again. He said that the striking doctors could end their strike but it seemed that political forces were provoking them for their own motives.
The house took up the business on the agenda and Planning and Development Minister Kamran Michael answered questions. The house also took up the privilege motions moved by members. Sheikh Alla-ud-Din, a PML-Quaid Unification Bloc member, pointed out through his adjournment motion the Rs 500 million misappropriated in the Forensic Science Agency.
Sanaullah also moved six bills for amendment in the house that were all referred to the Standing Committee on Revenue, Relief and Consolidation with orders to submit its report in the house by April 30. The bills moved were the Registration (Amendment) Bill, the Hindu Disposition of Property (Amendment) Bill, the Provincial Insolvency (Amendment) Bill, The Charitable and Religious Trusts (Amendment) Bill, The Hindu Inheritance (Removal of Disabilities) (Amendment) Bill and The Hindu Law of Inheritance (Second Amendment) Bill.
PML-Q legislator Dr Sami Amjad fainted in the house because of low blood pressure and was immediately taken to the hospital, where her condition was stated to be out of danger. The chair adjourned house proceedings till Friday.
