LAHORE: On a private members’ day on Tuesday, the Punjab Assembly took up 11 resolutions to ask the federal government to do a variety of things from granting Nishan-i-Pakistan honour to those hanged by Bangladesh authorities for their role during the 1971 war, to waving off television fee in electricity bills of mosques, to appointing female staff for taking pictures of women at passport and other NADRA offices.

The opposition’s attempt to get an out-of-turn resolution – for bringing the petroleum prices down to Rs40 per litre – passed was thwarted by the treasury on technical grounds.

It caused a temporary furor when the opposition walked out, but the situation quickly normalised when it returned to the house within a few minutes.

The process of taking up the resolutions started as soon as the Question Hour ended and the chair announced that 10 resolutions would be on the agenda.

Sheikh Allaudin was the first mover, who demanded that the House should recommend the federal government to posthumously decorate those who had been hanged by Bangladesh government for their role in 1971 war.

He was undeterred even when Rana Sanaullah told him that the matter pertained to the federal government and foreign office and the both had been informed about the resolution and their position. As the response was awaited, the House should better defer the resolution, Mr Sanaullah suggested.

However, the Sheikh said, “If even we (the members) cannot oppose Bangladesh, for some reason, it is not hard to imagine where does our foreign policy stand.” He was joined by Waseem Akhter and Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, but only to face decrement of the resolution.

Next was Waseem Akhter, who wanted the house to recommend to the federal government to wave off television fee included in electricity bills of mosques. “It is a fact that prayer areas do not have television, but what about residential premises falling within the mosque premises?” asked Rana Sanaullah, who stood to oppose the resolution. The government was ready to do everything for improving mosques, regulating them under the National Action Plan and do anything, but withdrawal of television fee was hardly a matter where the house should intervene, he said. And the resolution was defeated.

Mr Rasheed wanted the house to ask federal government to protect educational institutions. Rana Sanaullah stood to read the steps taken by the provincial government for protection of these institutions and how the government carried out their security audit before the resolution was carried with consensus.

Muhammad Sabtain of the opposition wanted the government to provide angiography facility in all hospitals and the house agreed.

Hina Pervaize Butt wanted the government to recruit girls for taking picture of female applicants at Nadra and passport offices. But her treasury colleagues opposed it on gender discrimination grounds. Sensing the situation, Rana Sanaullah promised to create a consensus among female treasury members and the resolution was deferred.

Other resolutions wanted the government to remove illegal signboards, amend laws for discouraging fake FIRs and ensure school fee reduction law was not violated.

Later, Mr Rasheed wanted his resolution asking the government to bring down the petroleum price to Rs40 per litre, passed. But, the law minister reminded him that according to rules no out-of-turn resolution could be moved with the treasury’s nod. Mr Rasheed was however adamant, wondering how could the treasury oppose a resolution suggesting reduction in petroleum prices.

“It is not about the resolution, but the process,” Rana Sanaullah told him.

The row over procedural issues defeated the resolution as the opposition refused to accept the amendment moved by the treasury and walked out in protest yet again, giving the chair a chance to call it a day.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2016