LAHORE: Government and opposition committees in the Punjab Assembly punted on a consensus regarding the speaker’s disqualification reference against opposition lawmakers on Sunday, agreeing instead to keep talking.
The session, chaired by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, failed to yield any agreements between the two sides.
Last week, the speaker initiated a disqualification reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against 26 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). The move stems from disruptions, sloganeering, shouting, and document destruction during the budget session.
- Negotiations between Punjab Assembly’s government and opposition on a disqualification reference have stalled, with talks set to continue.
- The reference targets 26 MPAs for alleged disruptions during the budget session.
- Both sides are consulting their parliamentary parties on the ongoing discussions.
- Fines totaling over Rs2 million have been levied on 10 opposition lawmakers for vandalism.
Discussions to Continue Amidst Unresolved Issues
Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, expressed that meetings would persist until a resolution is found. He downplayed any deadlock, noting the speaker’s encouragement for adherence to assembly rules.
Bhachar indicated that resolving these matters would take time, requiring consultations with the parliamentary party. He added that the speaker intends to ensure both parties abide by the Rules of Procedure.
“Things are not finalised yet,” stated Punjab Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, who anticipates a resolution in one or two more meetings.
Shuja-ur-Rehman emphasized that the treasury does not seek to unseat or disqualify opposition members. “The treasury wants to restore the respect and dignity of the house,” he remarked, underscoring that political issues are best settled through dialogue.
Both parties will now confer with their respective parliamentary groups about the day’s discussions. Shuja-ur-Rehman also voiced optimism that outcomes in Punjab could influence proceedings in the National Assembly and other provincial assemblies.
Sources indicated that negotiation committees were formed to address the disqualification reference, aimed at de-escalating political tensions in Punjab.
The reference filed against PTI-backed MPAs includes Malik Farhad Masood, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Kaleem Ullah Khan, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali, Ahmad Mujtaba Chaudhary, Shahid Javed, Muhammad Ismael, and Khayal Ahmad. It also names Shahbaz Ahmad, Tayyab Rashid, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Rashid Tufail, Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Khalid Zubair Nisar, Ch Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, Saima Kanwal, Muhammad Naeem, Sajjad Ahmed, Rana, Aourang Zaib, Shuaib Ameer, and Usama Asghar Ali Gujjar.
In a separate development, 10 opposition lawmakers were fined over Rs2 million for vandalism, including breaking microphones, based on video evidence. Each of these lawmakers—Chaudhary Javed Kausar, Asad Abbas, Tanveer Aslam, Riffat Mehmood, Muhammad Ismael, Shahbaz Ahmad, Imtiaz Mehmood, Khalid Zubair, Rana Aourang Zaib, and Muhammad Ahsan Ali—faces a payment of Rs203,550.
