By: IQTIDAR GILANI
LAHORE: Amid rumpus from the opposition benches, the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed four resolutions including the one regarding trial of acid throwing cases in Anti-Terrorism Courts.
On a private members day, there were seven resolutions of public interest on the agenda but two from the opposition legislators were disposed off due to lack of interest on their part and one treasury member withdrew his resolution after assurance from the Punjab law minister.
As the Question Hour on Higher Education concluded, Opposition Leader Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed stood up on point of order and drew the attention of the chair towards privilege motion of the joint opposition regarding lack of representation of opposition legislators in District Coordination Committees. He said that the motion was still pending with the privilege committee despite lapse of three months. He said that the opposition would continue protest till decision on the privilege motion.
The opposition legislators gathered in front of the Speaker chair and staged a sit-in. They tore into pieces the agenda copies and threw in the air. They continued sloganeering throughout the proceedings.
Resolutions of opposition legislators Dr Wasim Akhtar and Faiza Ahmed Malik were disposed off due to lack of interest on their part. Treasury legislator Mehr Muhammad Fayyaz withdrew his resolution on reply from Law Minister Rana Sanaullah that the government has started survey and the villages in Jhelum, where rains and snowfall have destroyed 50 per cent of crop, would be declared calamity-hit areas.
In the absence of actual mover Azma Zahid Bokhari, Lubna Tariq presented the resolution regarding trial of acid throwing cases in the Anti-Terrorism Courts. The House passed the resolution as the opposition did not resist and continued protest.
The House also passed the resolution moved by treasury legislator Nighat Nasir Sheikh regarding implementation of punishment awarded in cases of sexual assault and murder of minors. The House passed the resolution presented by treasury legislator Kanwal Nauman regarding raise in the fee of artists performing on PTV.
Kanwal Nauman said the fee of artists performing at PTV was low as it had not been revised for the last over 18 years. She said that the federal government should be asked to revise fee of artists in accordance with the increasing inflation.
The House also passed the resolution of treasury legislator Farhana Afzal regarding establishment of a help desk and posting of female social welfare officers at DCO offices across the province for redressing complaints of women. As the opposition continued protest, Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal adjourned the session till Wednesday (today) on completion of the agenda.
