Punjab Assembly Session Descends Into Chaos Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
LAHORE – The Punjab Assembly session on Tuesday turned into a heated spectacle, marked by verbal clashes, poetic protests, and a unanimous resolution condemning India’s alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Key Highlights from the Session
1. Fiery Clashes & Microphone Drama
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Opposition vs. Government: A shouting match erupted between Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shuja and opposition MPA Sardar Ali Khan over claims that assembly staff selectively muted opposition members’ microphones. The argument escalated into profanity-laden exchanges, forcing the chair to intervene.
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Poetic Protest: Treasury MPA Amjad Ali Javed (Toba Tek Singh) recited a poem in protest after his constituency’s university project was scrapped by the Higher Education Department. He vowed to boycott all related assembly questions.
2. Anti-India Rhetoric & Legal Trouble
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“Modi Effigy” Controversy: Government MPA Sheikh Imtiaz threatened to burn another effigy of Indian PM Narendra Modi outside the assembly after police registered a case against him for an earlier protest.
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Warning from Chair: Panel of Chairperson Samiullah Khan barred Imtiaz from using the microphone for “political point-scoring,” but Law Minister Sohaib Bharath assured him the case would be reviewed.
3. Unanimous Condemnation of India’s IWT “Violations”
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A resolution moved by treasury MPA Uzma Kardar passed unanimously, denouncing India’s “breach” of the Indus Waters Treaty—a longstanding point of contention between the two nuclear-armed rivals.
4. Other Key Developments
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COAS Promoted: Members, including Chief Whip Rana Arshad, congratulated Gen. Syed Asim Munir on becoming Pakistan’s new Field Marshal.
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Crime Rate Debate: A resolution by MPA Samiullah Khan claiming a drop in Lahore’s crime rate was passed by majority vote, despite opposition skepticism.
Why This Session Matters
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Political Theater: The assembly’s chaotic dynamics reflect growing frustrations within Punjab’s ruling PML-N, with backbenchers openly rebelling over ignored development projects.
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India-Pakistan Tensions: The IWT resolution and anti-Modi theatrics signal Punjab’s hardline stance amid ongoing water disputes and diplomatic frostiness.
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Military Influence: The glowing tribute to Gen. Munir underscores the military’s unchallenged stature in Pakistani politics.
What’s Next?
The session resumes Wednesday afternoon, with more heated debates expected—especially if Sheikh Imtiaz follows through on his Modi effigy threat. Meanwhile, the IWT resolution could escalate transborder tensions, as India dismisses Pakistan’s claims as “baseless.”
Bottom Line: Punjab’s assembly remains a volatile mix of governance, grievance, and grandstanding—with India as the ever-present political punching bag.
