Islamabad [Pakistan], Amid rising tensions with the Treasury, the opposition in the Punjab Assembly held its session on Saturday, vowing not to accept Maryam Nawaz as Chief Minister, calling her a "fake Form-47", even as the President suspended all its leaders, Pakistan-based Dawn reported.
Opposition lawmakers from the (Sunni Ittehad Council) and ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers have been at loggerheads after 11 opposition members were suspended for 15 sessions due to the "uproar" during Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz's speech on Friday.
The situation escalated after the government stripped opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar of benefits and privileges and closed his assembly chamber, according to the Dawn report.
A large contingent of police and a prisoner van were deployed outside the Punjab Assembly as the session began on Saturday, with orders to prevent entry of the 11 suspended legislators.
Offering support to the suspended legislators, the opposition legislators held their own session outside the assembly gate and made comments against Maryam Nawaz and the PML-N leadership.
Addressing the accused members of the Provincial Assembly, Ahmad Khan Bhachar said, "The government wants to silence us through civil dictatorship, but we will never accept fake form 47 CM Maryam Nawaz." At the time of his speech, lawmakers shouted slogans like "mandate thieves" and accused Maryam Nawaz's father and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif of corruption.
The lawmakers also moved a privilege motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan for "submitting to pressure from CM Maryam" to suspend opposition members. Lawmaker Sheikh Imtiaz even moved a resolution calling for a change in the name of Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Hospital.
Provincial Assembly member Mohammad Naeem said it was the first time in Pakistan's history that the government had closed the chamber of the opposition leader, according to the Dawn report.
During the proceedings in the House, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan proceeded with the debate on Budget 2024-25. Between 10 and 12 opposition members, led by Rana Aftab, entered the House to participate in the debate. However, after Aftab rose from his seat to speak on the matter, the treasury members paid him in kind.
Aftab then asked the president to take action against Treasury members involved in rowdy behavior, questioning whether they would also face suspension. Opposition members later walked out of the House, Dawn reported.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, who led the Treasury protest against the opposition, said opposition members would not be allowed to speak if the opposition interrupted the House leader's speech. The House approved the budget and the president postponed debate indefinitely.
Opposition lawmakers from the (Sunni Ittehad Council) and ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers have been at loggerheads after 11 opposition members were suspended for 15 sessions due to the "uproar" during Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz's speech on Friday.
The situation escalated after the government stripped opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar of benefits and privileges and closed his assembly chamber, according to the Dawn report.
A large contingent of police and a prisoner van were deployed outside the Punjab Assembly as the session began on Saturday, with orders to prevent entry of the 11 suspended legislators.
Offering support to the suspended legislators, the opposition legislators held their own session outside the assembly gate and made comments against Maryam Nawaz and the PML-N leadership.
Addressing the accused members of the Provincial Assembly, Ahmad Khan Bhachar said, "The government wants to silence us through civil dictatorship, but we will never accept fake form 47 CM Maryam Nawaz." At the time of his speech, lawmakers shouted slogans like "mandate thieves" and accused Maryam Nawaz's father and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif of corruption.
The lawmakers also moved a privilege motion against Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan for "submitting to pressure from CM Maryam" to suspend opposition members. Lawmaker Sheikh Imtiaz even moved a resolution calling for a change in the name of Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Hospital.
Provincial Assembly member Mohammad Naeem said it was the first time in Pakistan's history that the government had closed the chamber of the opposition leader, according to the Dawn report.
During the proceedings in the House, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan proceeded with the debate on Budget 2024-25. Between 10 and 12 opposition members, led by Rana Aftab, entered the House to participate in the debate. However, after Aftab rose from his seat to speak on the matter, the treasury members paid him in kind.
Aftab then asked the president to take action against Treasury members involved in rowdy behavior, questioning whether they would also face suspension. Opposition members later walked out of the House, Dawn reported.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, who led the Treasury protest against the opposition, said opposition members would not be allowed to speak if the opposition interrupted the House leader's speech. The House approved the budget and the president postponed debate indefinitely.
