'N', PPP lock horns over PA standing committees

LAHORE - Following recently negotiated cease-fire between the PPP and the PML-N after a month-long wrangling to have control over Punjab, the two parties are facing yet another major disagreement over constitution of 46 standing committees in Punjab Assembly and election of their chairmen.

A high level committee of Punjab Assembly mandated to resolve the issue, which is scheduled to meet on Monday (today), but it is less likely to evolve consensus due to divergent views of the stakeholders.

Headed by Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal, the committee comprises Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz, Punjab Minister for Law, Rana Sanaullah and Leader of Opposition, Ch Zaheeruddin Ahmad.

The PPP not only wants 40 per cent share in these committees including their chairmen, it is also advocating the cause of PML-Q vis-a-vis members of latter’s forward bloc in the assembly. The PML-N, on the other hand, is demanding separate representation in these bodies for PML-Q dissidents who also supported party’s candidate in the recent presidential election. It also wants to have some slots of chairmen of these bodies for members of the forward bloc.