LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly session on Monday witnessed a turbulent day of proceedings marked by repeated quorum failures, sharp opposition criticism over the wheat crisis, and a dramatic confrontation between the deputy speaker and an opposition member, even as the house managed to pass four significant pieces of legislation.
The assembly passed the Chenab University of Science and Technology, Rahim Yar Khan Bill 2026, the Evacuee Property and Displaced Persons Laws (Repeal) (Amendment) Bill 2026, the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (Amendment) Bill 2026, and the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The session, presided over by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began with a 34-minute delay. Early in the proceedings, opposition member Brigadier Mushtaq Ahmad (Retd) raised a point of order over the lack of quorum, which the government initially failed to complete, prompting Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar to order the division bells to be rung for five minutes.
On the sidelines, opposition members including President of the Kissan Wing Major Ghulam Sarwar (Retd), General Secretary Mian Ijaz Shafi, and Sardar Muhammad Ali held a press conference to voice their concerns over the government’s handling of the wheat crisis.
Mian Ijaz Shafi stated that despite repeated calls over the past ten days, the government had taken no concrete steps to address the grievances of wheat farmers. He criticised the Speaker for deliberately avoiding a debate on the issue in a house representing 12 crore people and noted that no minister or parliamentary secretary had been present to provide answers.
Ijaz Shafi further revealed that eleven companies had failed and their registration remained incomplete. He warned that 3,500 rupees per maund barely covered farmers’ production costs and that the Para Force was conducting raids on their homes. He also pointed out that no new seed variety had been introduced in the past ten years. Sardar Muhammad Ali added that the government had completely failed in wheat procurement and was only serving the interests of the mafia.
Back in the house, opposition member Mian Ijaz Shafi raised the quorum issue a second time, leading Panel of Chairpersons member Samiullah Khan to order the bells to be rung again. On this occasion, the government managed to complete the quorum and the session continued.
The day’s proceedings, however, ended on a contentious note. Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar sparked a tense exchange when he remarked that during his time in opposition, individuals dressed in white clothes would descend from the gallery and physically assault members. Opposition member Nadeem Qureshi rejected the claim outright, upon which the Deputy Speaker issued a bold challenge, stating that if a video disproved his account he would resign, but if it confirmed it, Nadeem Qureshi would be the one to step down.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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