LAHORE:
The noose around the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly is tightening with each passing day, as the suspension of its MPAs continues in the wake of one incident after another.
Outside the assembly, the Opposition’s MPAs and their families are reportedly facing humiliation and harassment by Punjab Police ahead of the planned countrywide protest on August 5 — a concern raised by Deputy Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenuddin Riaz on the floor of the House.
Although the matter regarding the suspension of 26 Opposition MPAs had just been settled a few weeks ago, three more lawmakers have been suspended within three days in response to recent incidents in the House.
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This time, Opposition MPA Khalid Nisar Dogar was suspended for fifteen sittings over his physical assault on treasury member Hassan Raiz. The incident triggered chaos in the assembly as the slaps exchanged sparked a full-blown scuffle.
In a related development, Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer also suspended MPA Sheikh Imtiaz for fifteen sittings. The decision came after Imtiaz repeatedly used derogatory language and disrupted House proceedings when his call for a quorum count was dismissed.
On Wednesday (today), the suspension of another Opposition MPA, Mian Ijaz Shafi, marked a continuation of tensions stemming from earlier events. Acting Speaker Channer suspended Shafi for fifteen sittings, accusing him of fueling the confrontation and using abusive language against treasury lawmakers.
Tensions between treasury and Opposition benches have escalated following an alleged attack by an Opposition MPA on a treasury member, followed by retaliatory action by private guards of treasury lawmakers targeting members of the Opposition.
It is worth mentioning that on July 29, the Opposition proposed three names — including Shafi — for a committee to probe the attack by the treasury’s private guards on its members. However, treasury MPA Hassan Raiz boycotted the proceedings, arguing that Shafi himself was responsible for the scuffle and should not be included in the probe committee.
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A source privy to the matter told The Express Tribune that Acting Speaker Channer was informed by treasury lawmakers that MPA Shafi should be suspended in light of his role in escalating the situation.
Earlier, the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly strongly condemned police raids on the residences of its MPAs and the alleged harassment of their families ahead of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) countrywide protest on August 5.
As the assembly session began under the chair of Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer, Deputy Opposition Leader Riaz raised the issue on a point of order, expressing serious concern over what he termed as a preemptive crackdown.
“There are still many days left in August 5, but the police officials have already started conducting raids at the residences of our MPAs,” he said.
“It is regrettable that the families of our MPAs and workers are also being harassed by Punjab police,” he added, demanding the law minister take immediate notice of the situation.
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Riaz also voiced disappointment over the delay in forming a committee to investigate an earlier incident involving an attack and the use of abusive language against Opposition MPAs by the private guards of treasury lawmakers.
However, Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman appeared unaware of the raids. “It is not in my knowledge,” he said, while assuring the House that he would contact senior police officials and the Home Department to obtain more information.
Later, Opposition MPA Tayyab Rashid raised concerns about the illegal human organ trade, alleging that a kidney transplantation racket was operating in Sheikhupura “under the nose of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.”
He criticised the government for targeting the Opposition instead of addressing pressing issues affecting the public. “The government should de-focus from the Opposition and do something for the needy masses,” he said.
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PPP MPA Qazi Ahmad Saeed also spoke on the floor, highlighting an alleged water theft scandal. He claimed that influential individuals were diverting canal water to their own lands, leaving poor farmers helpless. “They knocked the doors many times of concerned authorities, but their efforts proved futile,” he told the assembly.
From the treasury benches, MPA Amjad Ali Javed raised an issue regarding Higher Education Commission (HEC) policies, stating that new regulations were causing distress among computer science students.
He said the HEC had ruled that a computer science degree would not be considered valid without accreditation from a specific council.
“Students who have completed two semesters are now deeply concerned about the issue,” Javed noted. He urged the HEC to review and relax the policy in the interest of students’ futures.
