LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has lodged a harassment complaint before the Punjab Women Ombudsperson against provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah for making derogatory remarks against the party’s women.
PTI Deputy Information Secretary Sarah Ahmad submitted a complaint explaining that her party had organised a public meeting at Minar-i-Pakistan on April 29, which was attended by a large gathering, including men, women and youth from across the country. After the event, she stated, the law minister passed an inappropriate comment that targeted the women attending the gathering.
She urged the ombudsperson to take action against the minister otherwise women would not be able to stand up and struggle for national causes.
Flanked by PTI women MPAs, Ms Ahmad condemned the language used by the law minister. She said Mr Sanaullah had even used inappropriate language against Maryam Nawaz and Benazir Bhutto in the past.
Treasury points out quorum to avert debate on law minister’s remarks
PUNJAB ASSEMBLY: As the opposition vehemently raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly of the law minister’s remarks, the treasury pointed out quorum to scuttle proceedings within 30 minutes.
PTI MPA Nabeela Hakim Ali also submitted a condemnation resolution against the law minister in the house. She urged the house condemn the derogatory remarks made by Mr Sanaullah. She demanded the house ask the minister to apologise from the nation otherwise the PTI’s women leaders would stage a demonstration in and outside the Punjab Assembly.
Waheed Gull of the treasury pointed out quorum, leading to a debate on his intentions. Since the house hardly had one-third of the mandatory attendance it was a foregone conclusion that pointing out quorum would end the proceedings. But the opposition had other plans.
Dr Waseem Akhtar of the Jamaat-i-Islami and opposition leader Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed of the PTI alleged that a bill envisaging making teachings of holy Quran compulsory in the province forced the treasury to snap the proceedings.
The house was supposed to take up the bill, under which being an Islamic country, free and compulsory teaching of the holy Quran would help establish a society based on Islamic teachings.
Both movers of the bill – Dr Akhtar and Mr Rasheed – speaking on a point of order said the bill forced the treasury to itself end the proceedings.
Earlier, Mr Rasheed, speaking on the floor of the house, said the opposition would not allow the house to run until Mr Sanaullah apologised for his remarks against the PTI women. He said though others in the government, including the chief minister and the Punjab government spokesman, had regretted the minister’s remarks, Mr Sanaullah should apologise himself too.
Dr Akhtar also said that no one endorsed the indecent remarks, and the law minister should apologise.
At the outset of the proceedings, the opposition had protested outside the assembly. The protest drew sharp reaction from the treasury, which demanded that PTI chief Imran Khan should have also handed over his mobile phone to intelligence agencies when Ayesha Gulalai had accused him of harassment.
Amidst all this, Waheed Gull of the treasury had pointed out quorum. The chair ordered ringing of bells for five minutes, which was later extended to 20, but all in vain. The chair was left with no choice but to adjourn the house for Thursday.
Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2018