By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE The Punjab Assembly session remained non-functional for the second consecutive day due to a lack of quorum, reflecting continued disinterest from lawmakers. Speaker Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, visibly displeased, criticized members for their absence, noting that each assembly session costs the national exchequer nearly Rs 50 million.
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“Members receive salaries of six to seven lakh rupees. We must think about the national treasury, yet no one comes to the House,” he remarked.
The session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan but soon ran into disruptions. During the question hour, a heated exchange took place between Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and opposition lawmaker Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan over the salaries of teachers. Rana Aftab said school employees were not even receiving the minimum wage, while the education minister defended the government, saying education remained his top priority. “My own child studies in a government school,” he added.
Opposition MPA Sardar Muhammad Ali Khan also criticized the education department’s policies. Responding to the criticism, Rana Sikandar Hayat said he was trying his best, adding, “I’m not a superman.”
A lighter moment emerged when government MPA Salahuddin Khosa teased the education minister after he struggled to answer a question related to the population department. The comment triggered laughter across the House. “If Rana Sikandar Hayat cannot answer a population question, the population will keep increasing like this,” Khosa quipped.
However, the session came to an abrupt halt when opposition member Sheikh Imtiaz pointed out the lack of quorum. As attendance was insufficient, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan adjourned the session until Friday at 2 pm.
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