LAHORE – A heated session in the Punjab Assembly took a confrontational turn as the opposition raised allegations over a broken microphone, prompting an angry response from the Speaker and calls for an official inquiry.
As proceedings began, opposition members drew attention to the damaged microphone and accused the assembly staff of negligence. In response, Speaker of the House ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and warned that if the damage was a result of the opposition’s disruptive behavior, they would be held responsible.
Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Bachar, addressing the Speaker, defended the protest, stating, “Peaceful protest is our democratic right. You cannot stop us from voicing concerns.” He further criticized the Speaker for not releasing CCTV footage related to the earlier incident involving member Ejaz Shafi, despite repeated requests.
Members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also voiced strong criticism over the provincial budget, claiming South Punjab had been deliberately overlooked.
“If South Punjab continues to face injustice in the budget, we will be compelled to raise the demand for a separate province,” said one PPP member during the session.
PPP MPA Ali Haider Gilani joined the chorus and called for the formation of a special committee to probe the microphone damage and ensure transparency in the matter.
The Speaker assured the assembly that the inquiry would be conducted impartially, and appropriate action would be taken based on its findings.
It may be mentioned here that Opposition members could not record their protest during the presentation of the annual budget for Financial Year 2025-26 while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was also present there. They opposition members found the microphone broken.
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