'N', PPP lock horns over PA standing committees

The head of PPP’s parliamentary party in Punjab Assembly, Raja Riaz is of the view that if the PML-N wants to accommodate members of the forward bloc in the committees, it should do so from its own quota of representation.

The Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Ch Zaheeruddin believes that the so-called forward bloc has no legal status in the Punjab Assembly, and hence could not be treated as separate political group. The PML-Q is, therefore, demanding quota in standing committees on the basis of its actual strength (83) in the assembly.

Also connected to it is the issue of electing chairmanship of two public accounts committees in the Punjab Assembly. The PML-Q, the only opposition party in the assembly, has demanded chairmanship of the accounts committees in line with the decision made in the National Assembly, where the slot of chairman Public Accounts Committee has been given to Leader of Opposition, Ch Nisar Ali Khan. The PML-N is, however, opposed to the idea.

According to assembly rules of procedure, members of all standing committees are to be elected in accordance with the agreement between the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition.

In case of disagreement, the members are to be elected by the assembly from amongst its member according to the principle of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.