CM’s absence stirs debate in Punjab Assembly

LAHORE, April 14: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's absence from the assembly was the centre of a heated debate between the provincial law minister and the opposition leader during the session on Thursday. Law minister Rana Sanaullah angered opposition leader Raja Riaz, as he said the latter had been flattering the chief minister for three years. "Riaz sometimes flattered the chief minister in the cabinet meeting to the extent that even PML-N ministers could not find time to talk to Shahbaz Sharif," he said. Riaz said he would resign from the Punjab Assembly membership if the law minister proved that he flattered the chief minister. He went on to say that Sharif neither listened to anybody nor accepted anybody's advice. The debate was triggered when Riaz said Sharif and the provincial police chief should be present in the house to answer the call attention notice relating to a suicide attack on the shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan. He said the PML-N government failed to ensure police chief's presence in the house during a debate on the call attention notice and added that PML-N lawmakers lacked the courage to ask Sharif to attend the session. Sanaullah, who got irritated, said he would show on oath Riaz's flattering statements, which he gave in cabinet meetings, if he tried to drag this issue. He said Sharif listened to Riaz and even accepted his demands and executed Rs1 billion development projects in his constituency in Faisalabad. Former labour minister Ashraf Sohna came to Riaz's rescue and gave a detailed account of an incident, wherein he had asked the chief minister to inform ministers before visiting their ministries. He said he asked Sharif to consult ministers on appointment of secretaries to their departments. He said all ministers including those belonging to the PML-N congratulated him for his advice to Sharif and even offered him a dinner. Later, he said, senior adviser to chief minister Sirdar Zulfiqar Khosa called Riaz and even went to Faisalabad to tell him to keep PPP ministers in control. The debate on the subject concluded when Riaz said he respected the chief minister and helped him hold cabinet meetings in a peaceful manner. "Riaz should respect the chief minister as he had been doing during the last three years," said Sanaullah. He said terrorists were operating in small groups, they misled youngsters and made them suicide bombers. He said law enforcement agencies were vigilant at Sakhi Sarwar's shrine and one of the suicide bombers arrested alive revealed that the bombing was planned inside the shrine but tight security failed the plan. He said security official Ijaz would be honoured and lax officials would be taken to task. On a question, the law minister told Chaudhry Zaheeruddin that he would ask the home secretary if there was any letter from agencies about Moonis Elahi's security. Another issue that created rumpus in the house was Ali Haider Noor Khan Niazi's allegation that a magazine ad showed that models performed a catwalk in Darbar Hall of Governor's House. He waved magazine in the house and distributed photocopies of a page wherein a model wearing lawn was walking in Darbar Hall. He criticised the Punjab governor for allowing a catwalk in Governor's House. As PPP and PML-Q members criticised Niazi, treasury members left the house and later quorum was pointed out in the session, which was called on opposition's requisition. However, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood said quorum was complete and allowed the session proceedings to continue. MPA Sanaullah Masti Khail called for a comprehensive investigation into an incident of cannibalism in Darya Khan. After Maghrib prayer break, quorum was pointed out once again and the deputy speaker adjourned the session for 15 minutes to complete the quorum. Quorum was pointed out thrice but the house proceedings continued. Later, another debate started when opposition demanded to bring an out-of-turn resolution with regard to reopening of the Bhutto case. The deputy speaker said it had already been decided in the Business Advisory Council that an out-of-turn resolution could only be brought in consultation with parliamentary leaders of all parties. He sent Raja Riaz, Shaukat Basra and Rana Sanaullah to build a consensus. Sanaullah returned after some time and told the deputy speaker that there had been no consensus on the issue yet. Also, a Question Hour was held on Zakat, Ushr and Bait-ul-Maal department. Later, the deputy speaker adjourned the session for an indefinite period.