LAHORE: The opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday staged a walkout over Panama Leaks scandal.

The opposition members held a demonstration outside the assembly and chanted slogans against the prime minister for not presenting himself for accountability in Panama Leaks scandal.

Speaking on a point of order, Opposition Leader Mahmoodur Rasheed said the Supreme Court had issued a notice to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Panama scandal and he might be disqualified over it. He said the prime minister should step down to save the system and democracy. He said the premier could nominate anyone from his party for the slot.

Stages walk out of Punjab Assembly

Some treasury members started speaking against him for demanding stepping down of the PM. Both sides raised slogans against each other. At this, the opposition walked out of the house and one of its members, Arif Abbasi, pointed out quorum before leaving the house. The speaker adjourned the proceedings till Friday (today) morning.

Earlier, the session began with a delay of about 90 minutes. During the question hour, PPP MPA Faiza Malik asked under what criteria Rs7.8m of Zakat fund were given to seminaries of Lahore in 2014-15. She also questioned about seminaries registration with the government.

Zakat and Ushr Minister Nadeem Kamran replied that funds had been released to the registered seminaries after clearance of the Home Department.

Faiza Malik also sought explanation from the government regarding the release of Zakat for 19 hospitals of Lahore from provincial Zakat committee and six hospitals of the city from the district committee. She expressed dissatisfaction with the minister’s reply.

Shahabuddin of the PPP said Zakat was not being given to the people of his constituency as the Zakat committees were not functional.

The Zakat and Ushr minister said most Zakat committees had been constituted and functional in the province.

SANAULLAH: Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said there was no issue of arresting PTI chairman Imran Khan for his plan to shut Islamabad and that Imran could not spend 24 hours behind the bar.

Talking to the reporters outside the assembly, Sana said if the PTI intended to ‘invade’ the capital, the Punjab government could initiate action against it with the permission of the federal government. He said the PTI should finalise its ‘peaceful’ protest plan with the administration of Islamabad.

The minister said Supreme Court’s of notice to the prime minister in Panama case was a routine matter. He said everyone had faith in the apex court.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016