May 28, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25,1424

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LAHORE, May 27: Pandemonium prevailed in the Punjab Assembly for the second day running on Tuesday as the opposition found a fresh cause —- the arrest of its 22 members, including opposition leader Qasim Zia —- to agitate against.

Undeterred by noisy protests and shouts by the opposition, Speaker Afzal Sahi went on to transact the day’s business in around half an hour.

At the outset of the proceedings, MMA leader Asghar Ali Gujjar stood up to inform the speaker that the police had laid a ‘siege’ to the assembly, searching each car entering the premises as if it were a ‘den of criminals’.

“Police have arrested the opposition leader and others. I want to let it be known that police have never succeeded in saving any government in the past. Hence, the rulers should try and win over the hearts of the people instead of relying on police,” he said.

During his speech, all opposition members kept raising chants against the LFO, the police, the president, as well as the arrest of their colleagues.

The treasury members responded by raising slogans in support of President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. Several of them leaped out of their seats to form a protective shield around the speaker and the ministers when they saw a few opposition MPAs walking towards the chair.

Some PML-Q members hit PPP and PML-N MPAs when the latter tried to push their way through the shield. The situation was, however, saved by MMA legislators who acted as a bridge between the treasury and opposition members.

Taking a cue from the law minister, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for 20 minutes to allow the government and the opposition some time to negotiate a settlement.

After hectic talks of around one hour, the two sides agreed that the house be adjourned for the day.