PA keeps up 'tradition' of delayed proceedings

LAHORE - Members from both sides of the political divide grilled Speaker Punjab Assembly over the delayed start to the proceedings of the Assembly.

On Wednesday, the last day of the 8th session, the House started late by an hour and 50 minutes, that is, the proceedings were scheduled to start at 10 am, but the House initiated its working at 11.50 am.

After the recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat, Treasury member Asif Manzoor Mohal, on a Point of Order, questioned Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan about the delayed start to the proceedings again. “Since when you have started marking my attendance?” quizzed bit agitated Rana Iqbal while saying that he was at the Assembly since 9.30am, and was doing official work.

Asif Mohal retorted by saying that they had been present in the House since 10. “What is our fault if we have been here in-time?” he questioned the Speaker.

Opposition’s Ayesha Javed accused the Speaker for not running the House responsibly. “The House always starts late, and the Speaker is responsible for this. Mr Speaker! You are the custodian of the House, and you should shoulder the responsibility of starting the proceedings in-time. For this, the Speaker must come to the House first and in-time,” she maintained adding that female members were given less time in comparison to their male fellows.