The Punjab Assembly session was suspended for 10 minutes on Sunday after a confrontation between treasury and opposition lawmakers over remarks made by a ruling party legislator against the father of an opposition member. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan intervened to broker an apology from both sides.
Budget Session Disrupted
The commotion erupted during the budget session when treasury MPA Ahsan Raza Khan allegedly referred to opposition MPA Owais Warraich’s father, Umar Warraich, as a “professional killer”. This triggered strong protests from opposition benches, with Leader of the Opposition Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan condemning the remarks as unacceptable personal attacks. “There is a limit to tolerance. They have now dragged our fathers into political debate,” he said, adding that Umar Warraich was like an elder brother to him. “They should realise the gravity of what has been said. Ahsan Raza Khan should apologise,” Rana Aftab demanded.
Protest and Adjournment
As opposition members rose from their seats and demanded an apology, Owais Warraich attempted to confront Ahsan Raza Khan but was restrained by fellow lawmakers, preventing a physical altercation. Opposition members shouted slogans inside the House, including “The dog is barking,” and demanded the suspension of the treasury member. Amid the uproar, the chair directed that the objectionable remarks be expunged from the official proceedings before Panel of Chair Iftikhar Hussain Chhachhar adjourned the sitting for 10 minutes.
Speaker’s Intervention
Following the adjournment, a delegation of opposition lawmakers, including Ejaz Shafi, Sardar Muhammad Ali, Brigadier (retd) Mushtaq and Major (retd) Ghulam Sarwar, met Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan in his chamber to discuss the incident. When the session resumed after a delay of around 40 minutes, the Speaker reminded members that the Punjab Assembly was a House of dignity and sanctity where parliamentary decorum had to be upheld. “This House is a place of respect and honour,” he said.
Appeal for Restraint
Speaking on a point of order, treasury member Saeed Akbar Nawani appealed to both sides to exercise restraint, saying that although heated exchanges occasionally occurred in parliamentary proceedings, mutual respect should never be compromised. “This House is like a home for all its members. Sometimes harsh words are exchanged, but respect should never disappear from our hearts,” he said. Nawani observed that similar confrontations had occurred in the Assembly in the past, but were ultimately resolved through apologies and reconciliation. He also praised the Speaker for maintaining the dignity of the House, saying his stewardship of the Assembly would be remembered by future generations. He urged both members whose remarks had inflamed tempers to apologise to each other, adding that treasury lawmakers bore a greater responsibility to ensure the smooth conduct of budget proceedings.
Apologies Exchanged
Giving his ruling, Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan acknowledged that offensive remarks had been exchanged from both sides but observed that the controversy had begun with Ahsan Raza Khan’s comments. “One should never abandon caution,” the Speaker said, directing the treasury member to withdraw his remarks and apologise. Complying with the Speaker’s directive, Ahsan Raza Khan apologised, saying: “If my remarks have hurt his feelings, I apologise.” Owais Warraich also expressed regret for his own reaction. “I apologise for the words I uttered in the heat of the moment,” he told the House, bringing the episode to a close and allowing proceedings to resume.
Separate Exchange
Separately, the House also witnessed an exchange over remarks made earlier by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who had demanded the resignation of opposition MPA Rana Shahbaz. Speaking on a point of order, opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan termed the minister’s remarks “unparliamentary”, arguing that an elected member should not be asked to resign on the floor of the House. “He has been elected by the people, not selected,” Rana Aftab said, adding that if the development allocation cited by the minister was included in the budget documents, it should be pointed out; otherwise, she should refrain from making inaccurate statements before the House.
