Lahore   -  Expressing displeasure over the absence of Secretary Food during question hour, Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi on Monday adjourned the session without taking up any item on agenda.

The session started more than one hour behind the scheduled time with Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi in the chair.

As the session started, Minister for Prisons Fayyazul Hassan Chohan said that MPA Nazir Chohan did wrong by asking the religious beliefs of Advisor to Prime Minister on Accountability Mirza Shehzad Akbar.

“Nazir Chohan was in Kot Lakhpat Jail when he developed some cardiac issues. I immediately took notice of it and tried to become a bridge between Nazir Chohan and Shehzad Akbar after talking to the high command of the party,” the minister said. He also read a letter written by Nazir Chohan for the PA speaker from the Punjab Institute of Cardiology where he is under treatment. Chohan was extremely grateful to the PA speaker for taking strong stand for him. “Your name will be written with golden words in the history,” the letter written by Chohan said.

“As Mirza Shehzad Akbar has said through his twitter that he is Muslim and believes in the finality of the prophethood, I have talked to him on phone and now our issues have been resolved,” said the letter. “Mr Speaker, I am right now admitted in Punjab Institute of Cardiology, and therefore, cannot attend the assembly session. I request you to continue the session and I’ll also join once my health is improved,” Nazir Chohan said in the letter.

Parvez Elahi had earlier refused to take up any agenda item in the House if Nazir Chohan isn’t produced in the House. He made it clear on Monday that he would not compromise over the sanctity of the House. He was also grateful to all the lawmakers for standing in favour of Nazir Chohan.

Later, on the start of question-hour, PML-N’s Khalil Tahir Sandhu drew attention of the chair towards the absence of Secretary Food. It annoyed the Speaker once again, and he asked the Parliamentary Secretary regarding the whereabouts of Secretary Food. “Do you know him? Have you ever seen him,” the Speaker asked Rai Zahoor Ahmad, Parliamentary Secretary for Food. “The bureaucracy doesn’t take this parliament seriously despite the fact that I have given many rulings over this issue,” the Speaker said and announced adjournment of session till Tuesday (today) at 2pm.

PA SPEAKER OFFERS CONDOLENCE

Punjab Assembly Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi visited the residence of Provincial Law Minister Basharat Raja and offered condolences on the demise of his mother-in-law. Ch Parvez Elahi also offered Fateha for the elevation of her ranks.

He said: “We share your grief equally. May Allah grant her a high position in the Paradise and grant you all the strength to bear this loss with patience and courage.