LAHORE: Government and opposition leaders exchanged harsh words during Tuesday’s session of the Punjab Assembly which was chaired by Speaker Rana Mohammad Iqbal, DawnNews reported.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP) lawmaker Shaukat Basra demanded that the assembly speaker nominate a list of legislators for a commission to carve out southern Punjab as a separate province.

Basra also threatened to disrupt the session if his demands remained unmet.

Opposition lawmakers chanted slogans advocating the creation of a southern Punjab province.

“The southern Punjab province will be created,” they chanted during the session.

During the session, Rana Iqbal said that the issue of establishing the commission for new provinces should be taken up in Punjab as it has been in other regions.

Basra said Tuesday was a private member day so other members should not try to dictate him.

The continuing ruckus prompted the assembly’s speaker to postpone the proceedings until 10 am tomorrow (Aug 29).