LAHORE: The “one-man” opposition in the Punjab Assembly blocked law-making in the House by pointing out quorum after the Treasury declined to incorporate its amendments in the new pieces of enactments on Wednesday.

As soon as the House started taking up law-making business, PML-Q’s Khajida Umar raised the quorum issue as less than 50 MPAs were present in the assembly at that time against the condition of at least 94 out of total 371.

The proceedings restarted after Acting Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani called for ringing of bells for five minutes and minister Tahir Khalil Sindhu and another’s efforts remained fruitful to “haul” the MPAs back to the House from the lobbies and cafeteria.

The opposition members walked out in protest when the chair declined to give them relief with reference to the amendments they had moved to the Punjab Information of Temporary Residents, Punjab Security of Vulnerable Establishments, Punjab Arms (amendment) and Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (amendment) bills.

The amendments were being knocked out on technical grounds – failing to meet minimum three-day notice.

However, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Dr Waseem Akhtar did not leave as the Treasury got passed the Information of Temporary Residents bill.

The clause by clause reading of Security of Vulnerable Establishments Bill was in progress when Dr Waseem again tried to convince the chair consider giving relief to the opposition on amendments. Failing to get a favourable decision, he pointed out lack of quorum.

This time the Treasury could not assemble its members when the bells rang for five minutes and Gorchani deferred the proceedings for Thursday morning.

It may be mentioned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as chief of the PML-N had, two days ago, directed his party MPs to ensure their presence during assemblies’ sessions.

From the response given to the directions at least in the Punjab Assembly it seemed that it was meant for the Senate elections due on Thursday (today) and not the House proceedings.

QUESTION HOUR: Earlier, the House again took up Kalabagh Dam issue on a question put up by Dr Waseem, asking the government if it had any plans for raising the matter in the Council of Common Interests.

He alleged that India was investing heavily on the opponents of the water reservoir as the government was ignoring the project although chambers of Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala were ready to bear its total cost.

The PML-N’s Mazhar Abbas Ran suggested that the government should remove apprehensions of other three provinces regarding the project and form a committee under the chief justice of Pakistan with chief justices of all the four federating units, opposition leaders in the parliament and all the provincial assemblies as well as one water expert each from the four provinces as its members.

The government responded that the Punjab chief minister would take practical steps at an appropriate time for creating a consensus among all the four provinces.

Meanwhile, a privilege motion against journalist Rauf Klasra, moved by Javed Akhtar, was also referred to the committee. The mover alleged that Mr Klasra had breached privilege of the House by saying in a TV show that votes of MPAs from south Punjab would be bought against millions.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2015

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