The Punjab government had to bear embarrassment after failing to through a resolution on 'defence of democracy day' in the Punjab Assembly on Monday, as the House was recessed due to lack of quorum.
The treasury benches intended to mark October 12 as a day of 'defence of democracy' by tabling a resolution in connection with the October 12, 1999, military coup and to condemn former President Pervez Musharraf's action, but absence of treasury benches' members left the government in high and dry. Ironically, even three provincial ministers from Lahore were not present in the House.
Outside the House, one opposition member was laughing at the government and commented that lack of quorum questions seriousness of the MPAs towards the highest forum of Punjab. He said it also reflects the detachment of the government from its party's MPAs. "The legislators were tired of talking to wall, as their voice in the House never reach the government," he added.
There were rumours in the Assembly that the 14th session of the Punjab Assembly was deliberately delayed to October 12 in order to table the resolution. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was ready to read out the resolution when the quorum was pointed out by one of the opposition members and only around 80 members were present and hence Speaker Rana Iqbal had to recess the session till Tuesday (today) morning.
Meanwhile, earlier both PPP and PML-Q female parliamentarians and Najaf Sial from PML-Q dissident group staged a walkout in protest against the provincial government for withholding their development funds. On a point of order, Sugheera Islam of PPP (Parliamentarian) lodged a strong protest against the discriminatory policy of the government towards the female parliamentarians. She claimed that they have no access to development funds.
Najaf Sayyal also took the same plea and walked out of the House with the female legislators. Ijaz Sharif from PML-Q dissident group, on a point of order, told the House that the female MPAs on reserve seats have no right to claim development fund, as neither had any constituency nor they were elected through contesting any polls.
Opposition leader Chaudhry Zaheer strongly reacted to the comments of Ijaz Shafi and condemned his remarks. He said the female legislators were a part the Punjab Assembly and were equal to male parliamentarians. In his ruling, the Speaker declared that the female parliamentarians were as respectable to him as any male member and there was no discrimination.
The mood of the House, in general, was not favourable towards the Punjab government and complained about highhandedness of both ministers and bureaucrats towards MPAs. On a point of order, Sheikh Alauddin of PML-N claimed that the MPAs have no access to the provincial ministers and bureaucrats show indifferent attitude towards them. "Thus, we have no one to turn to in order to get redressed problems of our people," he added.
Later, through a resolution the House unanimously condemned the bomb blasts in Islamabad and Peshawar on October 5 and 9, respectively, and terrorists attack on the GHQ. The treasury benches tabled the resolution that expressed grief over the loss of lives though cowardly attacks of the terrorists. It also praised the Pakistan army for foiling the terrorists' attempt to capture the GHQ.
Meanwhile, earlier the members of the press gallery also staged a boycott of the proceedings against manhandling of journalists by security staff at Aiwan Iqbal and registration of a case, under Terrorist Act, against the wife of senior reporter. After receiving assurance from the Punjab Law Minister, the journalists ended their boycott.