Uproar in Punjab Assembly: Lawmakers Clash Two Opposition Members Suspended

LAHORE (Asif Iqbal): Chaos erupted in the Punjab Assembly on Monday as tensions between the government and opposition escalated into a physical altercation. The situation turned ugly when opposition lawmaker Khalid Nisar Dogar slapped ruling party MPA Hassan Riaz during a heated exchange, leading to a full-blown scuffle involving members from both sides of the aisle.

Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Chaner adjourned the session and summoned both parties to the Speaker’s chamber for a detailed consultation. Following the deliberation, the Acting Speaker announced a 15-sitting suspension of Khalid Nisar Dogar for his conduct.

In a parallel development, opposition MPA Imtiaz Sheikh was also suspended for 15 sittings after he pointed out a lack of quorum during the protest walkout staged by the opposition.

Speaking on the floor, Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Qureshi strongly objected to the decision, arguing that the matter should have been referred to the Standing Committee on Ethics instead of being dealt with unilaterally.

In response, Punjab’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman defended the Speaker’s ruling, asserting that the incident concerned the sanctity of the Assembly and merited strict disciplinary action.

The PML-N Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad, addressing the House, accused the opposition of trying to disrupt the legislative process, referring to PTI as a “chaotic group” and warning them against any aggressive gestures, saying, “If the May 9 elements reach out to us, we will sever their hands.”

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Amid the absence of the opposition, the government swiftly passed several important bills, including the Punjab Agricultural Income Tax Bill 2025. The Acting Speaker then adjourned the session until Tuesday at 2 PM.