LAHORE, June 7: Budget session of the Punjab Assembly will be held in a smooth manner as the provincial government is negotiating with the opposition in this regard.

“Law Minister Raja Muhammad Basharat is holding talks with the opposition to run the house smoothly,” hopes speaker Afzal Sahi.

He, however, made it clear that no opposition or treasury member would be allowed to disturb proceedings of the house. “I am custodian of the house and will ensure that the house is run according to the rules,” he told reporters at his chamber here on Saturday.

About his role in resolving the issue of denial of development funds to opposition members that led to protest consequent disruption of proceedings of the provincial assembly during the last session, he said what he could do was to refer the matter raised from the floor of the house to a special committee as he had no say in the distribution of funds.

Mr Sahi said as opposition leader Qasim Zia had raised the issue, he (Mr Zia) should have patience to listen to the government’s stance being presented by the law minister.

He said he did not believe that development schemes were sought from the PML-Q candidates who lost against the opposition nominees in the October general elections.

He said there would be no negative effect on the legal status of the legislation done without the opposition in the last session or likely to be done in future.

Replying to a question, the speaker said establishment of standing committees of the house was delayed partly because the opposition submitted nominations for the purpose late.

Moreover, rules of business had also to be changed to accommodate all members in the committees as required under the law, he added.

About the requisitioning of the assembly session by the opposition, he said a decision in this regard would be taken by Sunday (today) as he was consulting the government to see when it was planning to convene the budget session.

However, he said the session would be convened on or before June 12 as required under the law.

Under the law the assembly session should be convened within two weeks when a request for the purpose is submitted by a certain number of members. The opposition had submitted its requisition on May 30.