LAHORE: Minister for Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman discussed the Punjab Assembly opposition’s non-serious behavior in a media briefing held in the Assembly’s conference room here on Thursday. He regretted that in the past five months, the opposition had continuously dishonored sanctity of the house by violating the assembly’s decorum and rules. Nevertheless, Speaker Malik Ahmed demonstrated wisdom and patience by involving the opposition and providing them ample space, setting a positive precedent, he added.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, in her maiden speech in the Punjab Assembly, declared her intention to work collaboratively with the opposition. After her speech, she personally approached the opposition leader, assuring him that constructive criticism would be heeded, but criticism for the sake of criticism would be futile. However, the opposition disregarded this positive approach and fostered a culture of uproar and abusive language in the House, he added. During Maryam
Nawaz’s tenure, Punjab witnessed record development work, introducing more projects in five months than PTI did in its entire tenure.
This was intolerable for the opposition. Despite this, the speaker continued to give the opposition opportunities to speak , he said. “As the minister for Parliamentary Affairs, I received numerous complaints from MPAs that the speaker gave more time to the opposition. We endured this situation patiently for five months. After five months, the restrictions imposed on the opposition members were in accordance with the assembly rules. If the opposition believes they can better register their protest by sitting outside the assembly, they are welcome to do so, but they should not create problems for passersby. What happened to Tahir Anjum yesterday was strongly condemnable, he added.
The provincial minister stated that if the opposition returned to the assembly, it will only be under the condition that they adhere to the assembly’s rules and regulations. No uproar or abusive la
nguage will be tolerated in the House, he said, adding that the opposition’s performance in the assembly over the past five months was zero. Now, they were refusing to join the assembly committees. If they did not want to work, why were they receiving salaries, he questioned.
The minister informed the media that despite all the misconduct, the speaker had given the opposition another chance by forming an ethics committee to determine the conditions under which members could participate in sessions. The opposition members were also represented in this committee. Responding to media questions, he said the opposition should have attended the session called at their requisition, but they did not. The speaker delayed the session for two hours waiting for the opposition, but they did not show up.
The minister also announced that from August 14, the Punjab government would start providing solar systems. Initially, those using up to 200 units will be given solar systems, and later, those using up to 500 units will
be provided loans on five-year installments, with the government bearing the markup. The loan installment will be less than 50% of the amount paid for electricity bills. Pension system reforms were being worked on but have not yet been implemented, he disclosed.