Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Parvez Elahi took stern notice regarding the books available in the markets having derogatory contents related to the companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH) while also directing the authorities to ban all these books. “It is alarming that how these books reached here and easily available in the markets in a country that was made in the name of religion,” said Speaker, while condemning the act in strong words. The 22nd session of Punjab Assembly started on Friday at a local hotel in Lahore after the delay of more than one hour from its scheduled time of 3 PM with Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in the chair. As the session started, the issue of books with derogatory content related to the companions of Holy Prophet was raised in the House. The whole House was unanimous demanding a ban on these books as the opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz also demanded stern action on it. “It is directed that all three books ‘The First Muslim’, ‘After the Prophet’ and ‘Short History of Islam’ must be banned and all the copies available in the markets should also be confiscated,” the House said unanimously. The House demanded compliance report within a week.
Moreover, the House also passed unanimous resolution to pay tribute to those who lost their lives while fighting the COVID-19 including MPAs of Punjab Assembly. The resolution condoled over the deaths of MPAs Shaheen Raza of PTI and Shaukat Manzoor Cheema of PML-N who lost their lives fighting the Corona Virus. Former MPA Sardar Atif Mazari, who lost their life, was also paid tribute. The House also condoled over the tragedy of PIA aircraft crash in Karachi while praying for the departed souls. The services of frontline soldiers in the fight against COVID-19 including police officials and doctors were also lauded in the resolution moved by Law Minister Raja Basharat. It is worth mentioning here that the routine business of Punjab Assembly wasn’t taken on Friday as there was no question-hour and no Government Business in the House.
Speaking in the House, leader of the opposition Hamza Shehbaz said that we all have to change our life styles due to the situation of COVID-19 as Pakistan has surpassed the China in number of positive cases. “The COVID-19 is not a disease of elite class only. The lockdown isn’t imposed on the direction of elite class neither it is lifted by following the directives of elite. We are facing this hard situation today just because of not implementing the strict SOPs,” said opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz, while taking a jibe at the PM.
The parliamentary leader of PPP Syed Hassan Murtaza said that the farmers are not satisfied with the wheat support price of 1300 rupees only because their expenses are much higher that this amount and therefore they are shifting on some other crops instead of wheat. He also said that the government officials raided on the residences of already struggling farmers and their wheat was confiscated by them. The House should take notice of this injustice, the PPP leader demanded.
It is pertinent to mention here that it was for the first time that the session of Punjab Assembly was held at a hotel to ensure the SOPs of social distancing as the original assembly chambers cannot accommodate all the MPAs with the SOPs of social distancing due to insufficient sitting capacity. All the MPAs were following the SOPs with wearing face masks while some of them were also wearing hand gloves. Everyone was allowed in the chambers only after checking the temperature. The session was later adjourned to meet again on Monday at 2pm.