Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi has directed the Punjab Law Minister to finalise the names for a committee, which will determine the loss incurred to the provincial exchequer due to non-completion of projects during the 10 years of the PML-N government in Punjab.
He issued these directions in response to Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat' s demand of constituting a House committee to expose the claims of good governance of former Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. The Speaker also said that this parliamentary committee will also fix the responsibility of delay in completion of the projects.
While speaking on the floor of the House, Raja Basharat agreed with MPA Latasab Satti that the cost of a project for provision of clean drinking water to the residents Muree has increased by Rs 4 billion. He further said that the actual cost of the project was Rs 13 billion but due to bad governance and poor management of the previous government, the cost has escalated to Rs 17 billion.
The session started 1 hour 55 minutes late under the chair of the Speaker. The boycott of the PML-N continued against the suspension of its members. While talking to media outside Punjab Assembly, Elahi said that no act over and above the Constitution and the law can be allowed inside the House; maintaining prestige of the House is the responsibility of the Speaker.
He also said that in the past no opposition leader has used such 'filthy language' against the Speaker that the present opposition leader is using; he does think before using foul words against the Speaker and the members of the House; this is due to deficiency in his training. "During tenure of the PML-N, their Speaker had suspended the membership of PTI members on four occasions, but they (the PTI members) never used 'filthy words' against the Speaker or indulged in hooliganism," he added.
Elahi pointed out that a large number of the PML-N members were involved in hooliganism during present session; however, an action was taken only against six opposition benchers so far. "A committee has been constituted to assess the damage incurred to furniture, mikes and recording equipment by the members involved in the hooliganism and those held responsible will have compensation," he added.
In reply to another question, he said that the cases against Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were initiated by the NAB and not by Imran Khan, the Punjab Chief Minister or the Speaker; "the treasury benches have no link with the cases and thus the unruly behavior of the opposition benchers belonging to PML-N is beyond comprehension".
The speaker also constituted the House Committee comprising of Syed Yawar Abbas, Raza Hussain Bukhari, Raja Yawar, Sardar Farooq and Zakia Shahnawaz to probe into facts and identify opposition lawmakers responsible for ruckus on Punjab budget day.
After a complaint to lodge treason case against former senator Nehal Hashmi over his remarks against state institutions, the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning his statement in strong words.
The resolution was tabled by PTI's Chaudhry Zaheeruddin in the House, seeking to register treason case against the ex-PML-N leader. "The House strongly condemns controversial remarks of Nehal Hashmi and demands to lodge treason case against him", reads the resolution.
The former senator surprised everyone after he strongly criticized Pakistan Army at a gathering last Friday. Nehal was earlier jailed and fined for using foul language against the judiciary and threatening judges of the top court. While participating in Budget discussion Chohan said that government should take all private colleges, school and universities under their control to give a practical shape to their slogan "One Pakistan".
Muawaiya Azam Tariq said that government should take steps to increase GDP ratio. He said that prices of DAP fertilizer is increased from Rs 2350 to Rs 3550. He said that official support price of wheat is Rs 1300 per maund but the farmers were selling wheat at Rs 1100 per maund. He also announced to give his one month salary in to dam fund.