Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed on Wednesday claimed that some authorities were utilising a portion of land reserved for the Bab-e-Pakistan project.
He said that plans were being made to commercialise a portion of Bab-e-Pakistan land, about 100-kanal, which had a very high commercial value due to its location. He said plotting for the land was already underway, adding that such activities were being made to earn easy money.
He demanded immediate stoppage of commercialisation of the national heritage, and asked the speaker to constitute a parliamentary committee, consisting treasury and opposition legislators, to deal with the issue.
Rasheed said that despite the passing of 10 years, the project was not being completed due to undisclosed reasons and now the premises of Bab-e-Pakistan was being used by wandering animals. Raising a serious objection over its delay, he demanded immediate completion of the Bab-e-Pakistan project.
The opposition leader also informed the speaker that he had already submitted an adjournment motion but the concerned minister never bothered to answer any query in this regard. He urged the custodian of the assembly to take up the issue and ensure compliance from the minister.
Another opposition member Dr Waseem Akhtar on the occasion stood on a point of order and told the speaker that he had also submitted a resolution regarding the same issue, adding that it should also be taken up along with the opposition leader’s adjournment motion.
Anyhow, the speaker, taking a serious note on the matter, asked the concerned minister to answer the questions in the opposition leader’s adjournment motion by next week.
The Punjab Assembly session started one hour and 10 minutes late to its scheduled time under the chair of Speaker Rana Iqbal. The House adopted Question Hour regarding Agriculture, Information and Culture, and Livestock and Dairy Development Departments. Provincial ministers Dr Farrukh Javed, Bilal Yasin and Parliamentary Secretary Ejaz Achlana answered the queries of their colleagues.
During the session, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah laid some bills including the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2016, The Punjab Agriculture Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2016, The Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Ordinance 2016, The Punjab Local Government (Third Amendment) Ordinance 2016, The Infrastructure Development Authority of the Punjab (Amendment) Bill 2016, The Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2016, and The University of Home Economics Lahore Bill 2016. The speaker referred all the bills to their concerned standing committees for further consideration.
Later, the House adopted Zero Hour in which the opposition leader on a point of order criticised the government for not implementing on its parliamentary calendar and calling the session after the fixed date, which was August 4. He said that such practice should end, as the legislators’ schedule of their engagements gets disturbed.
In response, the law minister said that he had advised the Punjab Assembly secretary for informing the opposition leader regarding the delay, adding that he had no knowledge if the opposition leader was informed or not. On this, Rasheed said that the PA secretary informed him only three days prior to the session, which was awkward. However, he stressed to obey the scheduled calendar of assembly sessions
