LAHORE, Jan 7: The Baglihar dam issue reverberated in the Punjab Assembly on Friday when the opposition demanded an immediate discussion on it, but the speaker delayed it till the House takes up the irrigation matters for a formal debate.

Deputy Opposition Leader Rana Sanaullah threatened an adjournment motion if a debate was allowed on the issue. However, the speaker desisted from taking it up by calling it a federal subject and asked the members to wait till any formal result of dialogue between the two governments emerge.

Rana was of the opinion that although Pakistan and India were engaged in talks on the thorny issue, the matter would directly affect the Punjab. Any fluctuation in the Chenab river would hit the province and the Punjab Assembly should discuss the matter and provide input to the federal government.

At this, the speaker held that the routine work of the House could not be snapped to take up fresh matters, however, important they are. He asked the opposition to debate the issue when the House takes up water-related problems.

Rana Aftab of the Pakistan People's Party also tried to grill the education minister when he claimed that the House Committee on Private Schools had not met even after four months of its formation. The committee was formed to regulate private schools being run without any regulation.

He said the government had formed the committee, comprising cross-party representation, but failed to convene its maiden meeting in the last four months.

The minister, however, assured the members that a meeting would be called during the current session of the House. He also clarified that he was not heading the committee and could not held accountable for the delay.