SIC members boycott Punjab Assembly’s proceedings

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly session witnessed a brief ruckus on Monday as members of the opposition Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) boycotted the proceedings after they were barred from speaking

At the start of the session, Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan Khan administered oath to two MPAs and then assured the lawmakers that he would run the House without any bias. 

Following this, the speaker directed the secretary of the Assembly to brief the members about the voting process. 

Once this was completed, the SIC’s candidate for CM requested the speaker to address the House on a point of order but was barred from speaking. 

“In today’s session, only elections will be held for the chief minster. You cannot speak in today’s session,” Speaker Khan told the SIC candidate as he tried to speak up. 

The SIC members later walked out of the assembly to register their protest over what they said “stolen mandate”. 

As the SIC MPAs walked out, the speaker formed a committee, comprising  Khawaja Salman Rafique, Salman Nazeer, Samiullah and Khalil Tahir Sindhu, to convince the legislators to return to the Assembly.

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The committee successfully pacified the SIC members, who then ceased their boycott and rejoined the assembly. However later they again staged a walk out. Speaker started the voting process for the election of CM without the SIC members.

Earlier, PML-N nominee Maryam Nawaz, who enjoys majority in the House, reached the premises and was warmly greeted by the party leaders. 

Maryam, who is the Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President, became a member of the provincial assembly winning the February 8 general elections from constituency 159 Lahore-XV.