LAHORE: Opposition in the Punjab Assembly skipped the session it had requisitioned to discuss kidnappings and arrest of its leaders and instead held its own parallel sitting outside the assembly building here on Monday.

The PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s step irked Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, who has sought advice from the law department on what action may be taken against those who requisitioned the assembly session but skipped it and caused Rs27.1 million loss incurred on calling the sitting.

The opposition had submitted requisition for the session last Thursday to discuss the law and order situation in the province as well as ‘forced kidnapping’ of parliamentarians, growing inflation and an exorbitant increase in the electricity tariff.

However, it held its own ‘awami assembly’ or a mock session outside the building and boycotted proceedings of the sitting held in the assembly chamber. They said they would go to the house only after the speaker restored membership of their 11 colleagues, who had been barred from 15 assembly sittings for using foul language against Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz during the budget session.

60 members sign the roll to get TA/DA

Interestingly, at least 60 opposition MPAs signed the roll of the house, though they did not join the proceedings, apparently to claim travel and daily allowance (TA/DA).

Before putting off proceedings for an indefinite time, an infuriated speaker called their names in the house and issued their list to the media.

Talking to the media, he said it’s the first such happening in which the opposition submitted requisition for a session but boycotted the proceedings when it was convened. He said that he had sought opinion from the law department on what action could be taken against those who requisitioned the session, which cost the exchequer Rs27.1m, but skipped its proceedings.

“These so-called honest people and followers of an honest leader then secretly signed the roll call without attending the assembly session to file bogus claims of TA/DA,” he lamented.

Speaker Khan said he had no issue with the holding of ‘awami assembly’ but cautioned that making people take oath there was wrong and unlawful.

He claimed that the opposition members were requesting him for allotment of rooms, government vehicles, staff and other facilities but were not ready to join the proceedings.

Defending his decision to suspend membership of some opposition MPAs, he said there should be a sense of respect for women and that he would not allow use of abusive language in the house.

He said he would revoke the decision only if the MPAs concerned tendered their apologies.

He said that the existence of some people depended on instability and chaos in the country and alleged that the opposition’s leader (Imran Khan) was among such people.

In their mock session earlier, opposition leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar claimed that PTI MPAs, other than the suspended, were also being barred from attending the session in the house.

Alleging that the speaker had become biased against the opposition, he announced moving a court of law against the chair and continuing their protest for the release of incarcerated PTI leaders and workers.

The Awami assembly also adopted resolutions for the release of Afia Siddiqui from US custody, resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues as well as against the exorbitant hike in electricity tariff.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024