LAHORE, Oct 22: Deputy Speaker Sardar Shaukat Mazari allowed on Wednesday all opposition MPAs who had opposed the bill against domestic violence a representation in the house committee.
The Punjab Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill, 2003, was introduced by PML-Q MPA Dr Anjum Amjad on Tuesday and it was referred to the house committee amid protest by the opposition.
Mr Mazari gave the permission on a demand by MMA MPA Arshad Baggu who said people would laugh at the assembly if the bill was adopted without following the prescribed procedure.
He said the opposition wanted to record its comments on the bill on Tuesday but the Speaker had bulldozed them. “It’s true that a bill is passed with the majority vote but it is our right to speak on it,” he said.
Mr Baggu urged Mr Mazari to allow all those who had opposed the bill a representation in the house committee.
The demand was immediately accepted by Mr Mazari without any opposition by Law Minister Raja Basharat.
walkout: The opposition in the Punjab Assembly again staged a brief walkout on Wednesday in protest against the Legal Framework Order (LFO).
Before walking out, the opposition members raised slogans LFO Namanzoor, and Go Musharraf Go, while thumping desks in the house.
It was PPP’s Raja Riaz who through a point of order sought the attention of Deputy Speaker Sardar Shaukat Mazari who was in the chair soon after the start of the session which was one hour behind the scheduled time of 10am.
He said he wanted to draw the attention of the entire nation towards the most important matter which was related to the jobs of thousands of people and the solidarity of the country.
Afterwards, the MPA started speaking against the LFO saying the opposition did not recognize it. “We protest against the LFO because it threatens the integrity of the country,” he said.
This was followed by slogans by his colleagues who all walked out of the house as a mark of protest.
Law Minister Raja Basharat said the point of order was not valid because this was not related to a recent occurrence which needed immediate attention of the house.
Members of the treasury benches suggested that the chair should not send anyone to request the opposition members to return to the house and instead teach them manners of the assembly. “Why they always go out while demanding the president to go,” a woman MPA remarked.
The opposition members nevertheless returned when requested by Education Minister Imran Masood who was deputed by the deputy speaker for the purpose.
strategy: Opposition parties in the Punjab Assembly have changed their protest strategy and have decided to take part in the house business but only in matters of public interest.
Deputy opposition leader Rana Sanaullah Khan says they will continue to boycott proceedings to protest against the LFO in the beginning of the session.
However, they will take part in the house business when it takes up privileges and adjournment motions 99 per cent of which, he claims, are in public interest.
When the house will take up official business, they will again boycott the proceedings. However, he hastened to add that they might consider taking part in the official business if they deemed it in the public interest.
According to Rana Sana, the MMA has also assured him that the alliance’s MPAs will also follow the strategy.
Law Minister Raja Basharat said the treasury would not make any effort to persuade the opposition to join the proceedings for any such effort would remain abortive.
“They will act only according to the instructions they receive from their exiled leaders.”