PA expresses solidarity with Pakistan Army
LAHORE - Lauding the services of Pakistan Army, Punjab Assembly, through a resolution on Monday, expressed solidarity with their mission of defending frontiers of the country and eliminating terrorism.
The resolution was moved by Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on behalf of the Treasury overriding the one previously filed with the speaker office by the PML-Q. The chair held by Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani suppressed the resolution moved by the Opposition which had also paid rich compliments to Pak Army forcing the Opposition to stage a boycott of the session.
The House commended the armed forces for defending the country and making it impregnable. It appreciated the role of the soldiers played in helping the nation in peace time and rising to the occasion against any outside aggression. The House particularly acknowledged sacrifices made by Pakistan soldiers while countering and eliminating terrorism. At the same time the resolution slated the elements which were out to make the institutions controversial for their political ends and resolved not to let their designs succeed.
Later talking to mediamen outside the chamber, Parliamentary Leader of PML-Q Ch Moonis Elahi said presentation of resolution in favour of the army even by the Treasury was their victory as the government would not have done so had the Opposition not presented its own. However, he felt pain that his party’s resolution had been rejected.
The 7th session on the second day started two and a half hours late than the fixed time of 3pm. At the very outset, Ch Moonis Elahi urged the chair to grant him five minutes to present his resolution in praise of the army. But the chair was insisting on going with the question-hour and to later allow him time as much as he (Elahi) would desire. But the Opposition did not accept it. As a result of which loud arguments were advanced by the Chair, the Opposition and the Treasury members which stood behind the chair.
The speaker said the Opposition resolution needed some amendment. He said rules of business provided such a resolution only when the question-hour is over and the same was agreed with the Leader of the Opposition in the advisory committee meeting before start of the session. The law minister also endorsed the chair which by then kick-started question-hour on industries, trade and investment but himself remained entangled in argumentations with Moonis when the Minister Ch Muhammad Shafiq was giving answers amid a noisy situation. Ch Moonis wanted the resolution on army to be presented right-away no matter even if it was from the Treasury. But the chair did not allow it which made the Opposition stage a boycott. The chair sent three senior members to bring back the Opposition and the PPP, JI and some PTI persons returned to the House and the PML-Q and the rest of the PTI re-entered after the question-hour. On entry, Moonis asked the chair to take up the resolution but it took up other items on agenda and the privilege motions. After that the Opposition wanted their resolution to be presented but the chair did not allow and told Moonis that they (Opposition) had boycotted the proceedings when he was assuring them of tabling their resolution and now they have lost that opportunity. This again forced the Opposition to stage a walkout and the House in their absence suspended the rules and carried the resolution in favour of the Pak army.