LAHORE: The PTI-led provincial government introduced four bills amid protest of PML-N lawmakers who alleged the house lacked quorum when the treasury introduced bills and did not bother to check numbers despite pointing out.

The PML-N led the pandemonium after its MPA Muhammad Arshad Malik pointed out quorum and deputy speaker Wasiq Qayum Abbasi directed the assembly secretariat to count heads, and declared the house has the required number.

Meanwhile, the PML-N also counted the PTI’s lawmakers which according to them were less than the strength required to run the house. However, the deputy speaker declared otherwise and kept on running the house.

During the ruckus, the treasury, however, introduced four bills “The provincial motor vehicles (amendment) bill 2022”, “The Punjab Seed Corporation (amendment) bill 2022, “The factories (amendment) bill 2022” and “The forest (amendment) bill 2022”.

The ruckus started when PML-N’s lawmaker Arshad Malik reached late at assembly chambers and a few of his questions relating to agriculture department were on the agenda but had been disposed of as he was not present when his name was called. MPA Arshad wanted to get replies to his questions and he asked the deputy speaker that his questions be accommodated but he denied doing so. As a result of which he pointed out quorum. On a point the deputy speaker passed a ruling to constitute a committee to avoid delay in submission of the replies to those questions asked by the MPAs to the relevant departments.

PTI’s lawmaker Raja Basharat seconded it and said Speaker Sibtain Khan had already taken the initiative. Finally, the House was adjourned for Thursday (today) at 2pm.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2022