Opposition legislators Friday staged a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly after its six members, who were suspended during budget session, were barred from entering the House. The protesting legislators chanted slogans against the government as well as Speaker for issuing circular against the six MPAs. During the protest, PML-N MPA Rahat Afza became unconscious and was taken to a hospital. After the protest, the members of the opposition benches announced boycott of the session.
The opposition lawmakers whose entry was restricted included Pir Ashraf Rasool, Malik Muhammad Waheed, Muhammad Yaseen Amir, Mirza Javed, Zaib-un-Nisa, and Tariq Masih Gill. These Opposition legislators had protested during the assembly session on Wednesday when the Punjab government unveiled its 2026.51 billion rupees budget for the fiscal year 2018-19. The protest was against the arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif.
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz has termed the Punjab assembly speaker Pervez Elahi's action regarding suspension of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPAs as dictatorial act. Talking to media outside the assembly, Hamza Shahbaz said that the PML-N will not join the House till withdrawal of ban on MPAs' entry. "We have accepted the election results despite rigging," he added. He also alleged that Speaker Pervez Elahi is involved in Ring Road Project scandal.
He maintained that Pervez Elahi is playing the role of police inspector and they could not be silenced through such acts. He blamed Pervez Elahi for committing dacoity in Bank of Punjab and vowed to expose him at every forum. He said Imran Khan himself declared Chaudhry brothers as plunderers but he was made Speaker of the Punjab assembly.
He slammed Pervez Elahi for passing derogatory remarks against the female MPAs on the opening day of budget session. He said all the assembly members are part of my family and he would not attend the session until the suspended MPAs are allowed entry.