The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution demanding quota for special persons in the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies. JUP MPA Ali Haider Noor Khan Niazi tabled the resolution, which stated that a quota should be fixed in both the Parliament and provincial assemblies for special persons.
A quota has been fixed for both women and minorities in the Senate, National Assembly and provincial Assemblies, a similar gesture should be extended to the special persons, it added. During the session, the PPP parliamentarians raised the issue of Mehrangate scandal, which created uproar in the House.
Initially, PPP parliamentary leader Zulfiqar Ali Gondal during his supplementary question on Lahore Ring Road accused the PML-N leaders of taking money from ISI to defeat PPP in 1990's general elections. He argued that if Waheeda Shah of PPP could be penalised then people involved in the Mehrangate scandal should also be punished. Shaukat Basra of PPP also demanded that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should come to the House and take an oath on the Holy Quran that he did not take the money from the ISI.
Deputy Speaker Rana Mashud strongly reacted to their remarks and told them to refrain from making further remarks on the matter since it was a sub-judice matter. He told them to let the courts decide the matter, saying it should not be discussed in the House. On numerous occasions, he used strong tone to stop them from discussing the matter. The PPP parliamentarians continued their assault on the treasury benches. This time, they raised the issue of constituency development funds for the opposition members.
During the current session, this issue has been a bone of contention between the treasury and opposition benches and in protest the opposition members boycotted the House on numerous occasions. Only after an assurance of resolving the issue from the treasury benches, the opposition benches postponed their protest.
On a point of order, Goldal reminded the House that three Rajputs (Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana, Speaker Rana Iqbal and Deputy Speaker Rana Mashud) had given them assurances about the development funds, but they have failed to honour their words. He said the Chief Minister was denying their right to development funds by not releasing Rs 8 million each to opposition parliamentarians.
However, the Law Minister had a different view on the matter. While quoting the Chief Minister, he told the House that the members of their party have an objection over releasing of the funds to the opposition benches. He pointed out that the PPP provincial legislators were already getting development funds from the Federal government as the prime minister had released Rs 70 million each to them. "Thus, under these circumstances they have no claim over the provincial government's funds," he added. Other PPP members also took part in the debate, including Syed Nazim Hussain, Uzma Zahid Bukhari and Shaukat Basra, and pressed the Punjab government to release the funds.
However, Rana Sanaullah showed no flexibility on the matter and stated that they would not release the funds unless the Prime Minister adopts a just policy on distribution of development funds among all the members. Shaukat Basra again tried to raise the issue of Mehrangate scandal. On a point of order, he made a reference to Mehran Bank' ex-president Younus Habib's remarks against Sharif brothers for receiving hefty amounts to defeat PPP. His remarks invited harsh response from the treasury benches. Muhammad Waris Kallu passed strong remarks against the PPP leadership and taunted them of being the product of NRO.
Later, the opposition benches boycotted the House's proceeding for a few minutes to protest against the Chief Minister's alleged discriminatory policy regarding distribution of development funds.
Earlier, the House took up question-answer session on communication and works department and the concerned minister, Ahmad Ali Aulak, responded to the queries of parliamentarians. However, the Minister failed to satisfy the House with his answers. The Deputy Speaker took notice of incomplete answers and constituted a four-member committee to look into the matter.