The Punjab Assembly 29th Session convened on the requisition of opposition benches to debate establishment of new provinces here on Thursday turned rowdy, unruly when members of both sides used harsh words and mannerism that compelled the Chair to prorogue the session indefinitely.
The House echoed with slogans in favour of South Punjab as opposition lawmakers chanted 'South Punjab' is our dream, 'hamara Khawab Janoobi Punjab,Awam ki Awaz Janoobi Punjab'. In the rumpus Opposition legislators declared Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) parliamentary leader Ali Noor Haider Khan Niazi 'Mir jaffer'. The unruliness and unparliamentary language continued to be used in the House throughout the session where legislators across the political divide used unparliamentarily language against each other and challenged the speaker's authority as well as his rulings by terming them contra-justice.
In the chaotic environment Speaker remained asking the legislators to maintain order in the House but nobody paid heed to his repeated assertions. Rana Iqbal Ahmed Khan after failing to maintain the tranquillity of the House adjourned the Session for an hour but all went in vain as even after the adjournment period there was repetition of morning scene. During the period not a single item of day's agenda could be worked out in the House.
On Thursday when on requisition of the Opposition members, PA Session started under the Chairmanship of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Chaudhary Zaheer-ud-Din of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on a point of order said that people of southern Punjab are demanding creation of a separate province. He said that he has submitted a resolution in favour of formation of a separate province with the Assembly Secretariat and the Speaker should grant him permission to introduce the Resolution in the House. He was of the view that the Resolution is the voice of people of the region, thus public opinion must be honoured, he asserted. He said the people who thought that creation of new provinces could divide the masses should realise that at the time of partition of Sub-continent India had only 14 provinces but now they have 29 provinces, he pointed.
He, however, said that his party even respected the factions having difference of opinion with them. Chaudhry Zaheer said that all the members from the southern Punjab will support his move irrespective of party affiliation. He said that all legislators from South Punjab were favouring creation of new province but, if any body wanted to oppose that demand, he should come out openly.
The parliamentary leader of PML-Q said that masses would not swallow sugar-coated tablets any more. He further said that he would even accept the suggestion of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) of constituting a national commission over the issue to settle modalities of establishing new provinces. He said time has now come to form new province in South Punjab. Zaheer cautioned.
He said if the demand was not met out peacefully then the issue could take any other shape. Opposition leader said that the whole province as well as the rest of the country had eyes on this House. Chaudhry Zaheer said that the people of South Punjab were deprived of their basic rights. He said due to injustice in past people are demanding new province of South Punjab and they would respect this demand, he pointed.
Opposition leader Raja Riaz after the speech of Zaheer-u-Din stood up and wanted to speak on a point of Order but MMA's Ali Noor Haider Khan Niazi stood up and said that he has the right to speak before any other legislator as he had already submitted a resolution for the creation of Thal province comprising Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakar and Layyah. He also termed opposition members in favour of Sariaki Soba (Seraiki Province) as traitors.
The move of Ali Noor Niazi created rumpus in the Assembly and PML-Q and PPP members demanded Ali Noor Haider Niazi's ouster from the Assembly. Fauzia Behram of PPP also slapped Ali Noor Haider Niazi when he used abusive language. During the chaotic situation female Opposition members Fouzia Behram and Majida Zaidi quarrelled with MMA member.
When the session resumed after one hour break, the PPP and PML-Q members also demanded an apology from Ali Noor Haider Niazi which the MMA member categorically refused to render. This turned the House into a fish market again and caused a serious uproar and the opposition lawmakers started shouting at Ali Noor Niazi, while members from Treasury Benches come up to rescue of Ali Noor Niazi. During this Raja Riaz said that he had tried to respond to Treasury Benches' slogans against the Federal Government.
He said that time has come to break throne of Lahore. Raja Riaz said that Punjab government had set new records of depriving far-flung districts of the province from development funds as major chunk of the development allocations is being used in Lahore instead of bringing the developing districts at par with provincial capital. He said that none of PML-N legislators from South Punjab has the courage to oppose South Punjab formation.
During Raja Riaz's speech, treasury members were making loud noise in the House upon which PPP deputy parliamentary leader Shoukat Basra said if Opposition Leader was not permitted to speak then nobody in the House could say something. Speaker at the stage, harshly told treasury members to stop shouting but in vain as no one was ready to pay heed to his words.
In the meantime the speaker gave floor to the PML-Z law maker and mover of resolution to revive Bahawalpur as province. Shahid Anjum said that before considering formation of any other province, Bahawalpur's status must be restored as a separate province. Opposition members during his speech were chanting slogans as the friend of Zia Ul Haque is a traitor (Zia ka Jo Yar hai Gaddar hai Gaddar hai).