A tense standoff unfolded in the Punjab Assembly on Thursday as opposition members boycotted the session and staged a sit-in at the main entrance, protesting against the failure to implement production orders for detained lawmakers.
The protest escalated when opposition members blocked access to the assembly building, preventing both entry and exit.
The action followed strong remarks made during the session by opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmed, who warned that no one would be allowed to enter or leave the premises.
Speaking on the floor of the house, Aftab said several opposition members had been arrested and that, despite the issuance of production orders for their release, these had not been implemented.
Aftab argued that if the assembly could not enforce its own orders, its authority was undermined.
He further described the arrests of lawmakers as a violation of basic human rights and announced that the opposition would walk out of the session.
Shortly afterwards, opposition members moved outside and began their sit-in at the assembly’s main gate.
Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar responded sharply to the remarks, stating that no member had the authority to issue such threats.
The deputy speaker said no one could block access to the assembly and insisted that the institution’s rules must be upheld.
Meanwhile, during the same session, a treasury member Zulfiqar Ali Shah made an unusual suggestion, calling for formal training of assembly members to improve their attendance and performance.
Zulfiqar proposed that, much like a cricket team is sent to a training camp, lawmakers should also be sent to a suitable location in Lahore for capacity building.
