LAHORE: The recent budget sparked a heated debate in the Punjab Assembly on Friday, with government allies raising concerns over alleged neglect of south Punjab and the speaker strongly condemning the protest tactics, including damage to the assembly property.

Ali Haider Gillani, a prominent voice of the Pakistan People’s Party from south Punjab, criticised the budget for committing “injustice” against the region. He highlighted that five million residents of Multan were forced to consume contaminated water. He also pointed out the meager allocation of only Rs123 billion for agriculture and livestock, deeming it an injustice to farmers.

He called for the formation of a committee to investigate and submit a report on the “budgetary disparities” faced by south Punjab, expressing his optimism that the region would soon achieve provincial status.

Meanwhile, Speaker Muhammad Ahmad Khan expressed his disappointment over the conduct of certain members during the budget protest.

He condemned the breaking of microphones by the opposition leader and other members, as well as “misleading statements” given to the media, blaming the speaker.

The speaker stated he would “strictly take notice” of these actions, emphasising that those responsible for the damage to assembly property during the “hooliganism” would be held accountable.

He announced the formation of a committee to conduct an inquiry and vowed that legal action would be taken against the member who threw a dog at the finance minister.

Ahmed Khan Bhachar, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, raised a point of order, asserting that the “opposition is already a victim of injustice.” The speaker said that the assembly is “your home” and the members are “the owners of the House,” and as the speaker, he had to take allmembers along.

Later, speaking to the media, Bhachar reiterated that the opposition would stage a “strong protest” whenever “fake Form 47 Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz” entered the assembly. He claimed that for the first time in Punjab’s history, the government was protesting alongside the opposition during Thursday’s session, and alleged that their microphones were broken and speakers dismantled.

Bhachar claimed that the treasury members threw books at him during his speech and affirmed his dedication as “Imran Khan’s soldier,” willing to deliver a speech even in 46 degrees Celsius heat outside.

He also revealed that the speaker suspended the membership of PTI MPA Hassan Malik at midnight “solely because he [the MPA] staged a strong protest during the budget speech.”

Bhachar questioned how a “fake chief minister who cannot face a protest of 100 people” would cope with the outrage of 120 million citizens.

Published in Dawn, June 21th, 2025