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| September 29, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 5, 1427 |
Opposition boycotts assembly session
LAHORE, Sept 28: The opposition on Thursday boycotted the Punjab Assembly proceedings after the chair did not allow its members to discuss the Balochistan issue.
When opposition leader Qasim Zia, speaking on a point of order, alleged that the chief minister had expressed happiness over the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, speaker Afzal Sahi stopped him. This led to an uproar in the house.
Responding to Zia’s charge, Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi informed the house that baseless statements regarding Balochistan were being attributed to him.
The point of view of the government and the sentiments of the ruling party regarding Balochistan, he said, had been well explained at the National Assembly.
“None of the statements attributed to me have appeared in any section of the press, and these are contrary to the facts. The people attributing baseless statements to me are the ones who want to conceal facts. Their leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dissolved the Balochistan Assembly six months after the 1970 elections which was an undemocratic act,” Pervaiz Elahi said.
“The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has been our partners in the Balochistan government, and the assembly will complete its tenure. No member of the provincial legislature resigned. Instead they preferred to express their sentiments on the floor of the house,” he said.
Terming the policies of President Pervez Musharraf in the interest of the country, the chief minister said Pakistan’s image had improved in the international community owing to the steps taken by him (Gen Musharraf) who effectively conveyed the sentiments of his countrymen to the United Nations General Assembly.
Earlier, opposition members Rana Sanaullah, Arshad Baggu, Samiullah Khan attempted to discuss the Balochistan situation on the floor of the house, but the speakers did not allow them to do so.
In the meanwhile, the chief minister arrived to explain the point of view of the government.
Qasim Zia attempted to take the mike after the speech of the chief minister but the speaker did not grant him permission that led to a walkout by the opposition members.
The speaker asked the house to take up the second item on the agenda that pertained to questions raised by the members relating to the Punjab Education Department.
Education Minister Imran Masood requested the chair to defer the question hour till the return of the opposition as most of the queries were of utmost importance.
Journalists covering the Punjab Assembly proceedings, meanwhile, also walked out of the press gallery to protest the torture of their colleagues at Minar-i-Pakistan and cable ban a private TV channel. They said the police officials involved in the incident were roaming freely.
Communication and Works Minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin visited the press gallery and assured the newsmen that he would convey their sentiments to the chief minister.
Later, Law Minister Raja Basharat informed the house that the Punjab government had nothing to do with the suspension of the TV service.
About the torture of journalists, he said the government would contest the bail granted to the accused policemen.
Mr Raja criticised the members of the PML Nawaz faction for the contents of their resignations submitted to their leadership.
“The N-League members have no moral right to sit in the house after declaring the assembly a rubber stamp. They have insulted the august house and breached the privilege of us all. They should not sit in the house till their leadership decides the fate of the resignations. We’ll move a privilege motion against them if they continue to sit in the house. They should either stop coming to the house or be ready to face the privilege motion,” he said.
The chief minister patted the Raja before leaving the house during the Zohr prayers break.
Speaker Afzal Sahi kept privilege motions moved by seven members pending for Monday.
Reports by various standing committees were also presented before the house.
Opposition member Rai Ijaz pointed out quorum when the law minister tabled the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Bill, 2005. The speaker adjourned the house to meet again on Friday at 9am.
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