LAHORE:
The atmosphere in the Punjab Assembly was heated as legislators on the sides of the Treasury and the opposition, both inside and outside the chambers of the Assembly, after an incident in which an opposition MPA slapped a treasure legislator. The slap occurred after the accusations of derogatory language using the treasure member, who escaped by little.
Outside the chambers of the Assembly, some members of the private MPA of the Treasury were supposed to have used an abusive language against the opposition’s MPA. As a result, the interim speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channer suspended two MPA from the opposition for 15 sessions.
When the Chamber procedure began under the presidency of the interim president Channer, the opposition entered the Chamber that sang slogans in protest of the disqualification of the three PTI legislators, including the opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachaha.
This disqualification followed the sentences transmitted by the Anti -Terrorist Courts in relation to the incidents of May 9.
رولز 210 کے Disgust خالد نثار ڈوگر کو پندرہ نش نش کےلیے معطل کردیا ۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔ ۔۔
– Imran Bhatti (@Reporterbhatti) July 28, 2025
The Provincial Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman firmly opposed the behavior of the opposition, saying that they were violating their commitment to act in accordance with rule 223 of the rules of procedure.
The deputy leader of the opposition, Muhammad Moendin Riaz, asked the president to stop the procedures on the assembly agenda, seeking permission to talk about the sentences granted to PTI legislators, including the leader of the Bhacha opposition.
The Treasury Minister Rehman said that Bhachaha was like a brother for them, but emphasized that the government was not responsible for the sentence. He clarified that Bhachar had been sentenced by the court for his actions.
The interim president, Channer, said that discussions on judicial decisions would not be allowed, but allowed the opposition to express solidarity with Bhachaha. As the PTI MPA expressed their dissatisfaction with the government for sentences, treasure legislators also criticized the opposition, particularly highlighting the incidents of May 9.
Read more: ECP disqualifies three PTI legislators after the ATC verdict in the case of May 9
PTI’s chief, the frog whip Shahbaz Ahmad, holding the Sacred Koran, questioned the house, asking if it seemed a terrorist and why multiple FIR had been recorded if he had not been involved in terrorism activities. This caused a reaction from the interim president Channer, who urged legislators to avoid politicizing the Sacred Koran.
The opposition then organized a boycott, arguing that their privileges had been violated due to sentences. Upon returning, an argument between the vice president of the opposition Riaz and the interim president Channer intensified when the opposition legislator Khalid Nisar Dogar ran to the treasure banks and slapped PML-N MPA Hassan Riaz, accusing him of using an abusive language despite the repeated requests to stop.
The incident intensified quickly, with both sides out. Some major legislators intervened to calm the situation. The interim speaker Channer condemned the behavior, declaring: “Dogar Sahib, did not act properly. Such conduct is not tolerable in the assembly.”
The house was postponed for five minutes when the interim president Channer summoned the legislators on both sides to his camera. After the resumption, both parties condemned the altercation.
The treasure side expressed its regret for the attack, while the leader of the attached opposition Riaz commented that using the derogatory language was also unacceptable. He added that, according to the speaker’s order, the matter should have been sent to the Ethics Committee in question.
Also read: Police suspect that arab cider murders for strangulation
The interim speaker Channer declared: “Today I consider that this is one of the darkest days in this assembly.” He stressed that the problem was not only on two legislators but the dignity of the house itself. He ruled to suspend Khalid Nisar Dogar for 15 sessions.
When the opposition left the house singing slogans, MPA Sheikh Imtiaz pointed out a lack of quorum, which caused a channer response confirming that the quorum was fulfilled. However, Imtiaz persisted with his objection, which led to his suspension for 15 sessions as well.
After completing the items of the agenda, interim president Channer postponed the house until 2 pm on July 29.
When the legislators on both sides entered the Media Hall, another fight broke out. However, this time no physical attacks were reported. Outside the cameras of the Assembly, it was reported that some private members shouted and used an abusive language against PTI legislators.
The opposition condemned the actions of private members, calling them “hooliganism” and affirming that they would not bow to fascism and cruelty despite being cornered.
