Opposition walks out on Moonis Elahi's production issue

LAHORE: Opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Friday staged a token walk out against speaker's stubbornness for not issuing production order to detained PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi MPA to the House.

Led by opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmed, the members returned to their seats after staying outside the House for about 15 minutes.

Earlier, as the session started PML-Q parliamentary leader Choudhry Zaheerud Din took the floor and asked the chair to issue production order of Moonis Elahi forthwith by exercising special powers.

The Speaker, he said, was fully authorised and he should set unique tradition as the National Assembly Speaker did by ordering to produce PML-MNA Aqeel Anjum in the House," he added. Endorsing Mr Zaheer's demand, opposition leader Raja Riaz paid glowing tribute to the prime minister and national assembly speaker for setting golden example by welcoming Aqeel Anjum to the House.

He said, the PPP by keeping above party affiliation provided an opportunity to MNA of a rival party to come and explain his position to the House. He made a fervent appeal to the Chair to show same spirit and issue production order of Moonis Elahi.

He was of the opinion that Mr Elahi was innocent and was implicated in a false case. He also encouraged the Speaker to order bringing of Moonis to the House without any fear. Responding to opposition's demand, provincial law minister Rana Sanaullah Khan told the House that under the assembly rules production of Moonis Elahi can't be possible to the House.

He said, National Assembly Speaker issued production order of PML-N MNA because she had special powers which the House delegated to her after amendment in the rules. He, however, suggested the opposition to apply for amendment in the rules so that production of Moonis Elahi could be made possible.

On this occasion PML-Q leader Choudhry Zaheer told the Speaker that he already had submitted a written request to the assembly secretariat.

The Speaker Rana Mohammed Iqbal giving his ruling said, since, he did not enjoy powers, he can not issue production order for Moonis Elahi. His this ruling infuriated opposition members and they left the House under protest.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011