Azma's statement boils tempers, females walk out

LAHORE - Like the first day of the current session of the Punjab Assembly, women MPAs on Tuesday again demanded development funds at par with their male fellows, while an irresponsible statement by Treasury Member Azma Zahid Bokhari made male members come up with assertions causing females to stage a walkout, which was not supported by all the females.

“The PML-N government is working on anti-women agenda. All other provincial governments are giving development funds to female MPAs; hence the Punjab should follow the suite. Moreover, the members do not have the least idea about the concept of the reserve seats,” said ever-vociferous Bokhari after PML-N’s Sagheera Islam had bitterly criticised Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah for not helping in apprehending culprits who murdered her relative on June 11. “The Rana used to be vocal as an Opposition member, but now he has gone mum. Perhaps he has acquiesced to some pressure as a government man. Despite my repeated efforts, culprits are still at large, while Rana’s predecessor Raja Basharat used to be very supportive. Earlier, the development funds were not released. We can walkout never to comeback on the floor. Are we not part of the Assembly?” she quizzed.

As-cool-as-cucumber Rana brushed the allegations under the carpet by saying that the Chief Minister had constituted a committee for the release of funds. He showed his willingness to help the lady regarding the murder.

Another member observed that the females had no constituency, which was evident from erratic distribution of the Food Stamp Schemes forms by them.