LAHORE: As the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPAs on Monday continued the boycott of the Punjab Assembly proceedings over the suspension of membership of their six colleagues over ‘hooliganism’ during the last week budget session, Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi announced formation of a special committee to probe the matter.

The PML-N lawmakers gathered on the stairs of the Punjab Assembly when the session began around 4pm. The charged legislators started chanting slogans against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government. They were soon joined by opposition leader Hamza Shahbaz.

The protest continued for about two hours, while at the main gate of the assembly the six suspended MPAs -- Ashraf Rasool, Malik Wahid, Yasin Amir, Mirza Javed, Zaibunnisa and Tariq Masih Gill -- also staged a sit-in. These members were barred from attending the ongoing budget session.

As the protest continued, Hamza left for his chamber in the assembly. Interestingly, Hamza got deployed his own private guards outside his chamber to not let anyone enter without his permission, which was unusual as none of his predecessors, Raja Riaz of the PPP and Mahmoodur Rashid of the PTI, had such arrangement. However, an assembly official told Dawn that the opposition leader was allowed to have a couple of his own security guards in the House.

Speaker announces body to probe into ‘hooliganism’ in budget session

Mr Hamza held a brief meeting with some party MPAs in his chamber after learning that the speaker announced in the House to form a committee to investigate the issue of rowdyism by PML-N lawmakers.

The meeting, however, could not evolve a consensus on ending the protest.

In the assembly proceedings, Speaker Pervaiz Elahi said he had to maintain the sanctity of the House.

“I have no personal issue with anyone. My duty is to maintain the sanctity of the House and run it in accordance with law,” he declared.

Mr Elahi said he would form a special committee to probe the “hooliganism” by the PML-N MPAs in two weeks. He said the assembly secretariat had the record of 12 members who resorted to attack the assembly staff, damaged the recording system, mikes and furniture and passed indecent remarks about the government. “But action has been taken only against six of them,” he added.

The speaker also questioned the behaviour of Hamza. “The opposition leader’s behaviour reflects his upbringing. This Nawab Sahib does not even bother to attend any meeting in the House,” he said.

PTI lawmakers Sajid Khan, Raza Husain, Farooq Dareshik, Ms Talat Fatima, Ms Sabin Gull and Ms Seemabia Tahir moved a privilege motion in the House, condemning Mr Hamza and some other members of the opposition for using “indecent language” against the custodian of the House and damaging the assembly properties.

“The opposition leader’s use of outrageous language about the speaker shows that he lacked moral training,” the motion said.

Law Minister Raja Bashart said the PML-N MPAs’ hooliganism was planned and suggested that an estimated loss of Rs1 million should be recovered from those responsible for it.

The speaker adjourned the proceedings for Tuesday (today) morning after a PML-N MPA pointed out the quorum.

As the treasury members started coming out of the assembly building, the protesting lawmakers intensified sloganeering. A few PTI women MPAs tried to respond them with anti-Sharifs slogans.

PML-N lawmaker Muhammad Ahmad Khan told Dawn that the opposition had not been consulted as yet regarding formation of the probe committee announced by the speaker.

“We should be taken on board regarding constitution of the committee. We want unconditional restoration of the suspended members,” he said and deplored that the seating plan of the opposition members had been finalised without consulting it to move the outspoken members to the gallery. “We reject it,” he said.

Talking to reporters, Mr Hamza said Imran Khan was threatening to send the opposition members to jail. “Corrupt ministers are part of Niazi Sahib’s cabinet,” he said. He said the opposition would not join the PA proceedings till the ban on its members was lifted. He said the opposition would not accept the “partisan attitude” of the speaker.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting of the party legislators from Gujranwala and Bahalwpur divisions at the assembly cafeteria.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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