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Friday, March 15, 2024

Is PML-N boycotting Punjab assembly out of political frustration?

News Analysis |

Leaders of former ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced on Friday that they would not attend any session of the Punjab Assembly until a ban is lifted on the entry of six of their MPA’s to the House. According to media reports, six PML-N MPA’s were barred from entering the House after they allegedly caused chaos and destroyed government property during a budget session on October 16.

Opposition leader in Punjab assembly Mr. Hamza Shahbaz Sharif regretted that the speaker of Punjab assembly was not cooperating with them. “The seat of Punjab Assembly speaker is occupied by a person who stole 12 votes,” Hamza said. “The speaker has also passed derogatory comments on women – Pervez Elahi speaks more like a constable than a speaker.”

The disruption in the Punjab assembly is said to be one of many expressions of the former ruling party’s political frustration.

He was referring to infamous Punjab police which is allegedly rude and highly politicized force in the province. On the other hand, Provincial Minister of Punjab for information and culture, Mr. Fayazul Hassan Chohan made it clear on Friday that “Inquiry committee will be made to deduct Rs 9 lac from the pockets of those #PMLN MPA’s involved in the incident in #PunjabAssembly.”

The situation turned from bad to worse when the provincial minister for finance was presenting his budget speech and a few opposition members tried to raise some points. The speaker, however, asked opposition lawmakers to listen to the minister until he finished the speech. The lawmakers from PML-N came forward and chanted slogans against the government of PTI and Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Read more: Ch. Pervez Elahi, an ally of PTI, returns to Punjab Assembly…

The opposition members reportedly forced the assembly staff sitting on the front row to leave the bench for them and even went to the extent of tearing the budget copies which they threw at the treasury members. They also shouted slogans, making it difficult for Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht to be audible during his speech.

After the session of the assembly was interrupted Speaker Pervaiz Elahi issued show-cause notices and banned the lawmakers Malik Muhammad Waheed (PP-156), Muhammad Ashraf Rasool (PP-137), Muhammad Mirza Javed (PP-172), Tariq Masih Gill (NM-371), Zaib-un-Nisa Awam, Muhammad Yasin Amir (PP-162), from attending the ongoing budget. “These lawmakers are accused of “attacking the assembly staff, damaging the furniture and using abusive language about the government”.

The speaker has also passed derogatory comments on women – Pervez Elahi speaks more like a constable than a speaker.

As a matter of fact, since the time PM Imran Khan has announced to let the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) work independently, the opposition is making all attempts to disrupt the process of accountability. After the arrest of PML-N President Mr. Shahbaz Sharif in an alleged corruption the party fears some other arrests.

The PML-N president was arrested by NAB on last Friday in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case and was produced before accountability court, Judge Najam-ul-Hasan. The court granted a 10-day physical remand of Shahbaz to NAB. PM Khan, on the other hand, has repeatedly maintained that no compromise shall be made on corruption under any circumstances.

Read more: Govt behaviour on By Polls show difference between PTI & others

Experts opine that the PTI-led government will continue to face organized opposition because of its one-point agenda against the corruption and misuse of authority by the public office holders. The disruption in the Punjab assembly is said to be one of many expressions of the former ruling party’s political frustration.