Sitting on 7th January 2019

Summary of Proceedings

Summary of the Proceedings
Monday, January 7, 2019
Started at 04:23 p.m.

with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an and its Urdu translation followed by Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool ﷺ.

In Chair     Mian Shafi Muhammad, MPA PP-258, Chairman

At the commencement of session, Mian Shafi Muhammad, MPA PP-258, assumed the Chair. After recitation from the Holy Quran and Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool ﷺ, Mr. Muhammad Khan Bhatti, Secretary Assembly, announced the Panel of Chairmen in terms of Rule 13(1) of Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997, in the following order of precedence as nominated by Mr. Speaker.

1.        Mian Shafi Muhammad (PP-258)

2.      Mr. Muhammad Abdullah Warraich (PP-29)

3.      Mr. Muhammad Raza Hussain Bukhari PP-274)

4.      Ms. Zakia Khan (W-331)

Malik Muhammad Ahmad, MPA PP-176, on a point of order, stated that since Mr. Speaker had become Acting Governor and Deputy Speaker, Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari had been notified as Acting Speaker, the session ought to have commenced while Acting Speaker was in Chair and Panel of Chairmen should have been announced by the Secretary Assembly in his presence. He further stated that Mian Shafi Muhammad was not legally presiding the session. While replying to the point of order, Mr. Muhammad Basharat Raja, Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs was of the opinion that Panel of Chairmen had been nominated by Mr Speaker before assuming the charge of Governor as well as before the commencement of the session and proceedings of the sitting from its commencement was legal and Mian Muhammad Shafi had legally Chaired the House. This argument of Mr. Muhammad Basharat Raja, Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs was argued by various opposition members including Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Mr Sami Ullah Khan, Ms Azma Zahid Bokhari and Hassan Murtaza, who insisted that at this stage Rule 13 (2) had to be operative and a motion was required to be moved by Mr. Muhammad Basharat Raja, Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs to elect one of the Members present to preside over the session. They also argued that until this motion would be carried, the proceedings of the House would remain invalid.

Fateha

The House offered Fateha on the sad demise of father of Mr. Shehzad Qamar, Cameraman, Punjab Assembly.

Oath

Malik Asad Ali, Member-elect from PP-168 (Lahore-XXV) made his oath of membership and signed the Roll of Members. The Chairman administered the oath.

On resumption of proceedings after Maghrib prayer, Mr. Muhammad Basharat Raja, Minister for Law & Parliamentary Affairs moved the motion in terms of Rule 13 (2) of Rules ibid to elect Mian Muhammad Shafi to preside over the sitting of the House and the motion was passed by the House. At this stage the Chairman validated the proceedings of the sitting held so far and took up the following agenda items:

Question Hour

Questions relating to Local Government & Community Development and 
Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Departments were asked and Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister for Local Government & Community Development and Mr. Muhammad Sibtain Khan, Minister for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries answered the questions.

Call Attention Notices

Three Call Attention Notices were on the agenda. The pending Notice moved by Mr. Jafar Ali regarding dacoity of cattle and other valuables from a poor farmer at Police Station Sadar Tandlianwala, District Faisalabad, and the Notice of Mian Manazar Hussain Ranjha regarding ferocity against a woman and depriving her of her jewellery in Sialkot were disposed of. The Notice of Ms. Khadija Umer regarding rape and murder of a nine years girl at Lohari Gate, Lahore was kept pending as the mover was not present.

Laying of Reports

Raja Yawar Kamal Khan, Convener of Special Committee No.1 presented before the House the reports of the Committee in respect of the followings Bills:

1.    The Punjab Prevention of Conflict of Interest Bill 2018 (Bill No. 28 of 2018);

2.    The Punjab Right to Public Services Bill 2018 (Bill No. 29 of 2018);

3.    The Punjab Skills Development Authority Bill 2018 (Bill No. 31 of 2018);

4.    The Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority Bill 2018 (Bill No. 32 of 2018); and

5.    The Punjab Board of Technical Education Bill 2018 (Bill No. 33 of 2018).

At this stage, the quorum was pointed at 07:18 p.m. and after ringing bells for five minutes the Assembly remained inquorate. The Chair adjourned the House at 07:25 p.m. to meet on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m.