LAHORE: Legislators from both the opposition benches on Tuesday strongly criticised the government over its failure to deal with problems facing government employees as well as fill vacant teaching posts in the province. The Punjab Assembly session on Tuesday started an hour and 13 minutes late from its scheduled time. The session was chaired by Speaker Rana Iqbal Khan. Parliamentary Secretary Mehwish Sultana answered questions about the Higher Education Department. Over the issue of vacant seats in higher educational institutes, treasury members, including Tariq Mehmood, Mian Tahir, Haji Imran, Ilyas Chinioti, Haji Imran and opposition’s legislator Dr Waseem Akhtar strongly criticised the government demanding to appoint teaching staff immediately. Responding to questions about the number of vacant posts in universities, Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education Mehwish Sultana informed the House that the Punjab Public Service Commission had applied new rules for the appointment of government employees. “We have to give six months prior intimation for filling any vacancy. So the incumbent government whose tenure will ended within the next four months will not be able to fill these vacant seats,” she said. During the session, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) legislator Faiza Malik strongly criticised the the government for its policies relating to the welfare of government employees, stating that it was not good to appoint some people on contract basis and then sack them. She said that the government should revisit its policies and regularise contractual employees to safeguard their future. While talking on a point of order, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Shenila Ruth asked the government that it should inform the House about the development in the Tania murder case. She said that her body had been found from the Sambarial canal and her medical report was yet to be received. Minister Khalil Tahir Sindhu told the House that police was investigating the case. “A number of suspects have been arrested so far,” he said. On the private members’ day, Dr Waseem of Jamaat Islami Pakistan introduced a bill titled: ‘The Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Bill 2017’ in the House. It was referred to the standing committee for further consideration by the speaker after consulting the education and law ministers. Five resolutions from the treasury and opposition members were tabled in the House on Tuesday. However, all of them were disposed of due to different reasons. The movers did not insist on debating them. These resolution related to running an awareness campaign about swine flu, establishing a helpline for women to prevent harassment, upgradation of the ATM system to avoid fraudulent cases, providing first aid training in educational institutes, and increasing the number of zakat and ushr committees in Lahore district. Opposition Leader in the House Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed asked the speaker to give a deadline for completing the new building of the Punjab Assembly. He said that the project was being delayed for the last 10 years, adding that the construction machinery had been ruined. The speaker said that the work continued on the project and no definite date could be given. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Wednesday (today). Published in Daily Times, January 31st 2018.