05 June 2004	Saturday	16 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

LAHORE, June 4: Members of the Punjab Assembly spent at least an hour on frivolities and mud-slinging on Friday, canalizing less energy on serious issues like that of irrigation and education in the remaining two hours.

The house never gave an impression of being interested in some serious business. PML-N's Mujahid Shah was first to speak when he asked Parliamentary Health Secretary Dr Farzana Nazir to cover her head according to the Islamic teachings, instead of keeping her dupata around her neck.

"This is an Islamic country and so is the house. Sitting among the members of the house without hijab (veil) is un-Islamic and should be discouraged," he said. These remarks triggered an uproar that took 22 minutes to subside. Every member tried to shout each other down and disapprove each other's 'Islamic credentials.'

Dr Farzana pointed out that Mr Mujahid himself did not have beard and, therefore, he had no right to instruct others. Sit-in speaker Rai Ijaz intervened and told Mr Mujahid that all prophets grew beard and he must follow them before questioning anybody's faith.

Mr Mujahid pledged to grow bread if the secretary promised that she would start covering her head. But his challenge was buried in a pandemonium before the speaker stepped in to restore order.

Then the house realized that most of the ministers and parliamentary secretaries were absent and 30 minutes allocated for adjournment motions wasted. The speaker rushed through the motions, telling their movers that no one was there to respond.

Three motions were taken up and the movers were informed that they would get answers on Monday when the house would meet again and ministers and parliamentary secretaries bothered to return.