MPAs trade insults, slurs; spark chaos in Punjab Assembly

LAHORE: The treasury and opposition benches of the Punjab Assembly on Friday traded insults and slurs, sparking general chaos and plunging the house in disorder, The News reported. 

The ruckus kicked off when Malik Arshed of the PML-N mocked Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, associating him with controversial Tik Tok celebrity Hareem Shah. 

As Deputy Speaker Mir Dost Mohammed Mazari watched on from the chair, the opposition then chanted objectionable slogans against Chohan. 

They succeeded in rankling the outspoken minister, and Chohan hit back saying that their (the PML-N MPAs') "own leader's name was once taken with the name of singers like Tahira Syed and Dilshad Begum". 

The remarks apparently hit a nerve as several PML-N legislators, including Malik Nadim Kamran, a longstanding member of the house, objected saying that Chohan had "spoiled the atmosphere" of the house. 

Rana Mashhood, former deputy speaker of the house and another senior member of the PML-N, also criticised Chohan's choice of words, saying it had "disturbed the situation". 

Criticism over handling of national issues

PML-N legislator from Dera Ghazi Khan Awais Leghari told the house that governor Punjab "is himself claiming that all powers in Punjab are under the command of bureaucracy". 

He said the prime minister had no right to transfer the powers of a chief minister to the bureaucracy as it was an affront to the provincial assembly. 

Leghari also said that "depression increases in society" when conflicting parties do not speak to each other. 

Bilal Yasin, former food minister from the PML-N, also slammed the government for its failure in addressing the flour crisis.

Murtaza ends 'hunger strike till death'

PPP Punjab's Parliamentary Leader Hassan Murtaza was convinced to end his hunger strike after the government assured him that it would provide all possible relief to the people. 

Murtaza had announced that he would fast to his death against the failure of the government in providing flour and other basic needs to people. 

He had spent the night on the stairs of the Punjab Assembly. 

However, when a delegation of ministers and PML-N senior legislator Rana Mohammed Iqbal Khan called on him, presumably to convince him to take a less extreme step, he called off the strike.