In the Punjab Assembly opposition benches offered prayers for the departed souls of people who were killed in Bajaur and Dargai incidents recently. Opposition severely criticised the government for taking steps that culminated in these events.
Rana Sana Ullah deputy leader of the Opposition speaking on the occasion stated that extreme steps beget extremism. He said constitution and law does not give any person authority to kill people. If some one was involved in any illegality, he should have been brought before justice and tried instead of taking harsh steps against him.
The opposition benches made a short walkout from the House on the occasion. Arshad Baggo another opposition legislator speaking in the House stated that Bajaur attack was not work of Pakistani military but was done by foreign forces.
Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja speaking on the occasion stated that this issue had already been discussed in the National Assembly and government had given substantive answer to that. He stated that people who were killed in Bajaur incident were not of small age and were involved in extremist training.
Press Gallery journalists covering the House proceedings protesting against the banning of Sindh TV channel made a walkout from the House but came back later. Earlier, Shaukat Hussain Mazari, conducting the House, announced panel of chairman for the current session that included Rai Ijaz, Nazar Farid Khokhar, and Jalal-u-Din Dhakko, Uzma Bokhari MPA's.
Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Raja presented two bills 'The Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2006 and 'The Punjab Pension Fund Bill 2006'in the House. The Speaker referred these bills to the standing committees on the occasion.
The treasury benches referring to recent changes in PPPP Punjab setup criticised the party leadership for this. Qasim Zia and Rana Aftab opining on this, stated that the changes were of routine and they were now in central executive of the Party.
In the question hour parliamentary secretary education Nazar Hussain Gondal answering to a query stated that teachers of public schools were not forced by administration to bring school children to welcome foreign dignitaries.
The Chair on this occasion made a direction that Education Department must look into that if its allocated funds were effectively used.
Answering a question of MPA Muhammad Ijaz, the parliamentary secretary apprised the House that in six-towns of Lahore there were 94 girls high schools and 10 secondary schools. He said there were 119,018 girl students and 4,119 teachers in these schools. Replying to a question Gondal averred that out of 23 schools that don't have building in PP-122, 15 had been provided with structures.
He, replying to another query by MPA Asid Ashraf, stated that government servants after relaxation of rules and permission of relevant authority could go on deputation to private institutions.
In call attention notices, provincial Law Minister answering to a notice by MPA Arshad Baggo stated that a number of accused involved in murder of Major Zareena Mohsin had been arrested while others involved in this heinous crime would be arrested soon, he assured.
To a call attention notice by MPA Ijaz, the Minister stated that accused involved in murder of a woman and her four-children in Shalamar had been arrested. A number of privilege and adjournment motions were disposed off and put before relevant standing committees on the occasion. The House was adjourned for 9:00am Friday later by the Chair.