Source: PT
- Opposition leader threatens to hold sit-in at assembly’s stairs if session not called within a week
- PML-N’s disgruntled MPAs adamant over Sana’s resignation
LAHORE: The Punjab government has abruptly prorogued the 33rd session of the Punjab Assembly for an indefinite period after getting the governor’s approval on Thursday in a bid to avert the ongoing crisis it is facing wherein a large number of parliamentarians have tendered their resignations to a Sargodha-based spiritual leader over the issue of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat (finality of the prophethood), Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to details, the session of the assembly was summoned by the governor on November 23. But only two sittings on November 23 and 24 (Thursday and Friday) could be held as Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal had to delay the next sitting till December 4 due to the nationwide protests of the Tehreek Labaiak Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR).
If the session commences on schedule, Dec 4, it is speculated that the Punjab government will come under heavy criticism over its mishandling of the finality of Prophethood issue. Moreover, the government does not have the luxury to entertain criticism as a large number of parliamentarians hailing from the ruling party are annoyed with the government due to its mishandling of the finality of prophethood clause issue, as they seek an apology from Punjab Law And Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan—Chief Minister Shehbaz’s right hand.
Meanwhile, the sit-in of clerics and religious activists outside the Punjab Assembly entered sixth consecutive day. The TLYR protesters led by Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali have been demanding the resignation of Rana Sanaullah over his ‘controversial’ remarks about Ahmadi community in the aftermath of hastily amended clause.