Tensions escalate in Punjab Assembly as lawmakers clash over alleged attacks

LAHORE:

Tensions between treasury and opposition lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly escalated following an alleged attack by an opposition MPA on a treasury member, and the retaliatory assault by the private guards of treasury lawmakers on opposition MPAs.

As House proceedings commenced under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channer, both sides appeared united in calling it the darkest day, although each framed the events differently. The treasury blamed the opposition’s attack, while the opposition pointed to the assault by private guards of treasury lawmakers.

While the treasury benches termed the opposition’s actions as a continuation of the May 9 incidents in the Punjab Assembly, the opposition also held the treasury responsible for creating chaos and panic through the use of private guards.

Deputy Opposition Leader Muhammad Moeenudin Riaz demanded that acting Speaker Channer immediately suspend PMLN’s Khalid Hassan Riaz, register an FIR against the private guards who attacked the opposition while using abusive language, and suspend the chief security officer of the assembly for failing to prevent the guards’ entry into the premises.

Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman clarified that treasury’s MPA Hassan Riaz was addressing the chair when opposition lawmakers began taunting him and then attacked him.

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However, he admitted that the incident inside the Media Hall needed to be investigated. But he quickly added that if an FIR were to be registered against those who allegedly attacked the opposition, then an FIR should also be filed against opposition MPAs who created anarchy inside and outside the assembly chambers.

In the blame game, the opposition seemed to have a slight edge over the treasury, building its case on the attack by the private guards and the suspension of its MPA, Sheikh Imtiaz, for merely pointing out the quorum.

Although treasury lawmakers repeatedly condemned opposition lawmaker Khalid Nisar Dogar’s attack on treasury’s Hassan Riaz and the alleged abusive language used by opposition’s Sheikh Imtiaz while addressing acting Speaker Channer, the opposition argued that the issue was among lawmakers. They questioned how private individuals could be allowed to attack MPAs.

The opposition also rejected the claim that MPA Sheikh Imtiaz had used abusive language. They said the scuffle began when PMLN’s Hassan Riaz used abusive language first. However, Acting Speaker Channer assured the House that strict punishment would be given if the involvement of any private individuals in the attack was proven.

Treasury lawmaker Riaz boycotted the House proceedings after opposition’s Mian Ijaz Shafi was nominated as a member of the committee formed to investigate the attack by private members. He also demanded the suspension of Shafi, claiming he was the actual cause of the scuffle.

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Meanwhile, treasury lawmaker Amina Perveen raised concerns about the delayed delivery of traffic challans. She stated that people were receiving outdated challans at home instead of them arriving on time.

Minister Rehman acknowledged the issue but assured that improvements were being made. “We have started dispatching e-challans through WhatsApp and SMS to the correct addresses. There are a lot of challenges, but they will be resolved soon.”

Various resolutions were passed, including one presented by opposition lawmaker Ahmar Rasheed Bhatti, paying tribute to the renowned Punjabi poet, the late Tajamal Kaleem, along with a request to rename a government boys’ higher secondary school in Chonia in his honour.

After discussing the agenda items, the House was adjourned to meet again on July 30 at 2 pm.