ISLAMABAD: Amid intense opposition and uproar from Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) members,  the National Assembly adopted resolutions on Thursday supporting the creation of a south Punjab province and reposing confidence in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, DawnNews reported.

Angry protests from opposition benches marred Thursday’s NA session, which started with a delay of two hours. Shouts of “Go Gilani, go!” by opposition lawmakers filled the House as PML-N members tore copies of the day’s agenda to pieces, staging another noisy protest to keep up its campaign against PM Gilani.

“I wish we do not revive those unethical traditions in the House. We should not undermine the supremacy of the Parliament that has been established during the last four and half years,” National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza urged the opposition members.

Members from the PML-N, who had left their seats to sit on the stairs opposite to the Speaker’s dais even before start of the proceedings, carried placards and chanted slogans against the prime minister.

The Speaker’s repeated requests to maintain decorum seemed to fall on deaf ears as the protesting members continued their sloganeering against the government.

Meanwhile, amid all the commotion , Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek presented two resolutions in the house — one reposing confidence in the prime minister and the other supporting the formation of a south Punjab province.  Both resolutions were passed by the House amid echoes of “No! No!” from the opposition members.

The session was adjourned until Friday after the passage of the resolutions.

‘No significance’

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that not only was the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) in favour of the formation of a south Punjab province, it also supported the creation of the Bahawalpur and Hazara provinces.

Speaking to media representatives outside the assembly, Nisar said a commission should be constituted for this purpose.

Nisar moreover said that the passing of a resolution in the National Assembly over the formation of a south Punjab province had no significance.