Punjab Assembly Session Adjourned Due to Lack of Quorum Amid Heated Exchanges
Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan addresses the session of women caucus
The Punjab Assembly witnessed a turbulent session on Thursday as the treasury benches failed to maintain the required quorum during the approval of bills, leading to an abrupt adjournment. The session, which was marked by heated exchanges between the opposition and government members, descended into chaos before Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar suspended proceedings until Friday at 2 PM.
The disruption occurred when opposition member Brigadier (R) Mushtaq Ahmad pointed out the lack of quorum, forcing the deputy speaker to halt legislative business. The adjournment came amid ongoing tensions between the treasury and opposition benches, highlighting the strained atmosphere in the assembly.
Earlier in the session, Punjab Law Minister Sohaib Bharath engaged in a bitter war of words with opposition members, accusing them of enjoying government vehicles and "double benefits." His remarks provoked a sharp response from opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmed, who criticized Bharath’s tone as resembling a "thana-like" (police station) attitude. The situation escalated to such an extent that Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had to intervene, calling for restraint from both sides.
The session had already begun on a contentious note, with opposition members expressing frustration over the absence of ministers and secretaries, delaying proceedings by 15 minutes. When the assembly resumed, tensions remained high, particularly during the question hour.
Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Development Saadia Taimoor launched a scathing attack on PTI members, questioning their credibility in demanding performance reports when they had allegedly failed to form standing committees or caucuses during their four-year tenure. Meanwhile, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan directed the Information Minister to address a query raised by Azma Bukhari regarding the Pak-India war during Nawaz Sharif’s government.
The session took another chaotic turn when opposition members criticized the police department’s handling of law and order. Rana Aftab Ahmed accused the government and police of favoring PTI instead of maintaining public order, sparking an uproar. PTI’s Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan Bharath retaliated with strong remarks, further inflaming the situation.
As Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar became visibly emotional during the heated exchanges, PML-N’s Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman also joined the debate, intensifying the confrontation. The escalating tensions forced Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan to once again step in, enforcing a temporary ceasefire between the treasury and opposition benches to restore order.
With the session adjourned amid unresolved disputes and legislative business left pending, the Punjab Assembly remains a battleground of political rivalries, raising concerns over the smooth functioning of parliamentary proceedings in the days ahead.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, has stated that the Women’s Caucus has been established to resolve women's issues on a priority basis. To effectively raise women's issues, the caucus includes representation from women belonging to all political parties.
He expressed these views while addressing a session of the Women Parliamentary Caucus at the Punjab Assembly.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that the Women’s Caucus is an exceptionally effective forum for presenting women's perspectives. The issues presented at this forum will be addressed through collective efforts by women. He stated that the caucus should be further strengthened and empowered to play an effective role in addressing social and legal challenges.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan further stated that through the platform of the Women’s Caucus, connections will be established with other provinces, particularly with the Sindh Assembly and the Azad Kashmir Assembly, so that a joint strategy may be adopted at the inter-provincial level to address women’s issues.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan emphasized that incidents of harassment against women are condemnable and that the caucus must work on an emergency basis to prevent such occurrences. Women in rural areas are in dire need of dignified legal assistance.
Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan said that if violence is being committed against women or their rights are being violated, the caucus must play an active role in addressing these issues.
He reiterated that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz is paying special attention to women’s issues.
Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan stated that only when the voice of women is strengthened will they be able to attain their rights. He also referenced the unanimous decision of all political parties that under no circumstances will there be any reduction in women's representation in Parliament.
During the session, Members of the Assembly Mehwish Sultana, Ishrat Ashraf, Zakia Shahnawaz, Uzma Kardar, and Sonia Asher also shared their views.
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