Fida Hussnain
The Punjab Assembly session on Friday turned tumultuous due to continuous uproar from the opposition, leading to the postponement of the budget approval.
Chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, the session witnessed significant chaos, particularly during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speech. The opposition’s persistent noisy protest forced the Speaker to adjourn the budget session until 2 PM on Saturday. “I have tried to run the House in an orderly manner, but next time, I will use my constitutional authority to maintain order,” stated Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan.
It, the official car of opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar was confiscated due to his protest during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speech. Bhachar left the assembly in his personal vehicle, and the Punjab Assembly Secretariat also recalled all staff from the opposition leader’s chamber. Bhachar criticized the Speaker’s actions as retaliatory, intended to please the Chief Minister, and claimed that parliamentary traditions were violated. He asserted that it is the opposition’s duty to highlight anti-people measures in the budget and those retaliatory actions would not deter them from addressing public issues. In a related incident, Deputy Opposition Leader MoeenRiazQureshi was barred from entering the assembly. Qureshi stated that he went to the assembly for an important task but was stopped by security, who informed him that a wireless message had been received banning his entry. Consequently, he returned after being denied access.
After the session, Provincial Information Minister AzmaBokhari remarked that the Chief Minister was discussing measures to reduce inflation and developmental projects while the opposition engaged in thuggish behavior in the House.
