Lahore – A second round of negotiations between the Punjab government and opposition parties over the suspension of 26 PTI-backed members of the Provincial Assembly concluded without any breakthrough.
The discussions were held in the Punjab Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, who had earlier formed an eight-member parliamentary committee comprising both treasury and opposition members to resolve the deadlock. The issue stems from the suspension of lawmakers following a disruption during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s budget speech on June 27.
The treasury side was represented by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chief Whip Rana Arshad, and others, while the opposition included Ali Haider Gillani of the PPP, Shoaib Siddiqui of the IPP, and Leader of the Opposition Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Bhachar said that while the talks were held in a “positive atmosphere,” no formal agreement was reached. He added that both sides had agreed to continue dialogue and would meet again soon to review the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and seek a mutually acceptable solution.
Minister Shuja-ur-Rehman stressed that the purpose of the dialogue was not to disqualify any member but to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House. He said that consensus had been reached on several points, and the remaining issues could be resolved in one or two more sessions.
As of now, the suspension of the 26 MPAs remains in effect, and their legislative participation continues to be on hold. The parliamentary committee is expected to reconvene in the coming days to advance the discussion and potentially draft new guidelines for maintaining order in future Assembly sessions.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
