LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has unanimously approved resolutions in favour of reinstating Bahawalpur province and the formation of a separate province in southern Punjab, DawnNews reported.

Both resolutions were tabled by Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Punjab Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rana Sanaullah during Wednesday’s session of the provincial assembly, which started with a delay of over two hours.

The session, which was presided over by speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal, kicked off as new assembly members — the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Usman Bhatti, and the PML-N’s returned candidate on a reserved seat for women, Shumaila Rana — took their oaths.

However, Ms Rana’s oath-taking was followed by shouts of “Shame! Shame!” from PPP lawmakers, matched by chants of “Go Zardari Go!” and “Go Gilani Go!” by PML-N legislators, seemingly turning the House into a fish-market as the war of slogans ensued.

PML-N member Shumaila Rana was forced to resign in August 2009 after allegations of misuse of credit cards against her. Ms Rana was arrested for allegedly stealing two credit cards of a fellow lawmaker and then going on a shopping spree.

However, the allegations were later found to be baseless. Ms Rana had won a seat reserved for women in the provincial assembly on a PML-N ticket in 2008.

The Election Commission had declared her a returned candidate earlier last month after receiving a fresh priority list from the PML-N.

Wednesday’s session was subsequently adjourned by the speaker for an indefinite period.