Punjab lawmakers demand debate on Sialkot lynching

PML-N MPA warns of anarchy if people continue holding courts in the streets

The members of Punjab Assembly have demanded a debate in the House over the factors which led to the lynching of Sri Lankan citizen Priyantha Diyawadana in Sialkot.

On Wednesday, the incident was condemned by the MPAs and a minute’s silence was observed by the House to pay homage to the late Sri Lankan citizen. Speaking on a point of order, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Samiullah Khan said that it was sheer barbarism what happened in Sialkot and termed it a national tragedy.

“We stood up today to pay tribute to the late Sri Lankan citizen and this gesture also shows that we all are severely condemning the sad incident,” said the PML-N lawmaker. “We all have to find out the factors that led to this sad incident,” he added.

“A debate was held both in the National Assembly and Senate over this issue. Since the incident took place in Punjab there is a dire need to have a discussion in this House over it,” Khan said.

“Our already fragile system will collapse if people continue holding courts in the streets,” Khan warned while referring to vigilante justice. The views of MPA Samiullah Khan were also endorsed by Speaker Ch Pervaiz Elahi, who asked the law minister to allocate one day during the ongoing session to have a general discussion over the issue.

“The prime minister took immediate steps after the incident took place and I assure the MPAs that we will hold a general discussion over it in the House,” said Raja Basharat, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

The session of Punjab Assembly started after a delay of more than one and half hour from its scheduled time, with Speaker Ch Pervaiz Elahi in the chair. Answers related to the Communication and Works Department were given by Minister Sardar Asif Nakai during the question-hour. The MPAs were concerned regarding poor road infrastructure in their respective constituencies and demanded that the roads must be repaired before the next elections.

Minister for communication and works had only one answer for all the MPAs that roads will be repaired when his department gets funds from the government. It was revealed to the House during the question-hour that there is no road in Bahawalnagar that connects the district with other parts of the province.

Moreover, The Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2021 was laid in the House and was referred to the standing committee by the speaker, who sought a report on it within two months.

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