LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution condemning the killing of senior anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya and demanded that the federal government hold a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The resolution was tabled by Punjab Minister Ali Afzal Sahi and unanimously adopted. It said the anchor was preparing a sensitive documentary that could have exposed many people but he was martyred in a targeted killing in Kenya and the House expressed its sorrow and grief over the incident.

Describing the incident as an attack on the right to free speech, the resolution demanded that the federal government initiate a judicial inquiry into the killing.

Earlier, the House passed the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence (Amendment) Bill 2022, while audit reports were also laid before the House by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raja Basharat.

The opposition members walked out of the House when Speaker Sibtain Khan did not oblige them on the request of waiving the restriction on entry of 18 lawmakers into the house. The ban has been imposed for 15 consecutive sittings.

PPP’s Hassan Murtaza bemoaned that the ban was affecting the representation of the voters from the relevant constituencies. But Excise Minister Hashim Dogar said the MPAs’ return should be conditional with tendering of written apologies otherwise, next time these lawmakers would carry the orchestra to the House.

PTI’s Yawar Abbas also endorsed the minister’s views and demanded written apologies of the MPAs who had upset the speaker by continuous whistling during the sitting on Saturday.

Former speaker Rana Iqbal and Khalil Tahir Sandhu, on a point of order, objected that the House was being run in violation of rules as the Chair continued proceedings despite a lack of quorum.

Earlier, newly-elected MPAs Faisal Niazi, Iftikhar Bhangoo and Malik Muzaffar took oath of their offices.

On the completion of the agenda, the speaker adjourned the House for Nov 10 apparently to facilitate the treasury lawmakers to join the PTI’s long march being taken out from Lahore on Friday (tomorrow).

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2022