Punjab govt limits PA Speaker's powers

Lahore: Punjab government has cut the powers of speakers of the provincial assembly through an ordinance.

According to details, the Punjab government has decided to bring the provincial assembly under the purview of the law department after facing serious problems from the speaker of the provincial assembly.

The ordinance, issued by Governor Balighur Rehman, stated that whenever the Punjab Assembly session is prorogued, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department shall issue notifications regarding summoning or prorogation of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab.

The ordinance adds that Punjab Assembly is not in session and the governor is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action.

Earlier, Governor Balighur Rehman prorogued the 40th assembly session on Tuesday, summoning the 41st session at the Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Wednesday, but the Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has refused to accept the governor’s decision.

Instead of going with the session at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Elahi adjourned the assembly session and now two separate sessions of the provincial assembly could be held.