MUZAFFARABAD, March 5: The combined opposition in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly staged a walk out on Friday in protest against the alleged partisan attitude of Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir, who prorogued the session sine die in the absence of opposition citing its “indifference towards the agenda.”
The session was requisitioned by the opposition to debate a host of issues, both political and administrative, and was convened by the speaker on February 25. But on the first two days, instead of debating those issues the lawmakers spent time in wrangling on trivial matters.The session was then adjourned by the speaker for six days to meet again on March 5, notwithstanding the burden on national exchequer in shape of different allowances of legislators and other miscellaneous expenses.
As the session began on Friday, two hours after the scheduled time, the speaker initially told the house that a recent speakers’ conference in Lahore had declared support for Kashmir cause and then asked the legislators not to raise any ‘point of order’ during the question hour.
However, shortly afterwards, opposition member and former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan stood on his seat to protest against a statement of speaker against him (Mr Khan). He maintained that Mr Qadir had breached the impartiality of his office by giving a “fabricated and misleading” statement against him.
Responding, the speaker retorted that the former prime minister had made three statements against him and he (speaker) had given rejoinder to only one of them. He, however, added that he was ready to apologise if his statement hurt the feelings of the former premier.
The reconciliatory statement of speaker however cut no ice and a commotion was created in the house with many lawmakers simultaneously standing on their seats to express their views. As Minister for Law Abdul Rasheed Abbasi was lashing out at the opposition for its indifference towards the peoples’ problems, the opposition staged a walkout from the house to protest against the attitude of the chair. In the absence of opposition, the speaker prorogued the session sine die.
Later, at a press conference the opposition made scathing criticism of the government and declared that it would shortly submit another requisition.
It may be mentioned here that apart from travelling allowance, which includes return airfare from different locations and POL costs, the MLAs would claim a daily allowance of Rs2, 450 for 15 days for this session. www.dawn.com
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