5, April 2005	Tuesday	25 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, April 4: The Punjab Assembly has unanimously declared “violent disruption of a marathon in Gujranwala” as an act of terrorism and vowed to curb incidents that usurped basic and constitutional rights of women. The assembly made this declaration on a resolution moved by law minister Basharat Raja after over a two-hour debate on the Gujranwala marathon and MMA’s April 2 strike. The assembly had started its session some 40 minutes late on Monday evening.

The resolution moved by the law minister stated: “The Punjab Assembly declares the sad incident in Gujranwala as a violation of women’s basic and constitutional rights. This house feels that the government’s step to give 33 per cent representation to women in elected institutions and encourage them to participate in country’s development is commendable.

“This house declares that disruption of women’s healthy, positive, social and political activities is an act of terrorism and extremism.

“This house demands that the government should declare the act of violence against women by the people involved and organizations as terrorism and take measures to curb such incidents in future.”

As Speaker Afzal Sahi asked the house for voting, no member opposed the resolution and it was passed unanimously.

The resolution was carried by the house after lengthy arguments and counter-arguments by opposition and treasury benches.

At the start of the assembly session, a minority MPA on a point of order requested the assembly to observe a two-minute silence on the death of Pope John Paul-II. The house then observed a one-minute silence on the directions of the Speaker.

Immediately after that opposition’s Asghar Ali Gujjar took the floor. He drew attention of the house towards an incident occurred in a union council in Layyah during the MMA strike on April 2. He alleged that police firing on innocent people left a youth dead and seven other people injured. He demanded that a case be registered against police officials concerned and a judicial inquiry be held.

Faizul Haasan Chohan, who was elected on an MMA seat and had joined the PML, said that Qazi Husain Ahmad and Maulana Fazalur Rehman had revived the LFO issue. Different opposition members then spoke against Mr Chohan and then the PML leadership.

Treasury MPAs, including Basharat Raja, strongly responded and opposition member Arshad Mahmood Baggu was forced to take his words back.

Mr Raja said the government wanted to end the MMA strike in a peaceful manner. Had there been no protest, there would not have been police firing, he said. He said the youngster, who got married just eight months ago, was killed by a bullet while standing on his rooftop. He said the CM had instructed its inspection team to inquire into the incident. He said a case would be lodged on the application of the victim’s family.

He said the opposition should use the assembly floor as a forum to register its protest instead of bringing people on roads and putting their lives at risk.

Later, the house discussed the violent disruption of a marathon in Gujranwala.

Food minister Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal said that some armed people had came to the marathon’s venue and threw patrol bombs on vehicles.

MPA Imbisat Khan demanded that the government should register terrorism cases against those involved in humiliating women.

As Raja sought permission to present the resolution, deputy opposition leader Rana Sanaullah Khan said there was no need to present a resolution as the house was already discussing the issue. He said that the opposition also respected women and their rights but it opposed women’s participation in marathons, boxing or wrestling.

He said that another point in the whole incident was that the government had directed girls of local colleges to participate in the marathon. He said directing girls to run on roads was obscenity.

The law minister responded that there would have been no problem, if violent assailants had considered marathon participants as their sisters and daughters.

“The opposition needs to re-direct its thinking and all problems will be solved accordingly,” he suggested.

The assembly started a debate on its regular agenda late in the evening. The irrigation and power minister spoke during question-hour while call attention notices had queries from the law minister.

The assembly also passed the King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Bill 2005 and The Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2005.

The house will discuss the University of South Asia, Lahore, Bill 2004 on Tuesday (today).