Tensions Boil Over in Punjab Assembly
A routine session of the Punjab Assembly turned chaotic on Monday when opposition lawmaker Khalid Nisar Dogar physically attacked government MPA Hassan Riaz during a heated verbal exchange. The incident occurred while the session was being chaired by Acting Speaker Zahid Iqbal Channar.
The altercation followed a series of taunts exchanged between the two legislators, ultimately resulting in Dogar slapping Riaz on the assembly floor. The sudden act of aggression led to a scuffle among members and disrupted the session’s proceedings. To regain order, the acting speaker promptly adjourned the session for five minutes.
Speaker Steps In to Control the Situation
After the brief adjournment, Speaker Zahid Iqbal Channar held an emergency meeting with senior members of the government to address the incident. Following consultations, opposition members were directed to return to the house.
Government lawmakers strongly condemned the actions of the opposition. They described the physical attack as not only unacceptable but also undemocratic. One member stated, We can tolerate harsh slogans and criticism, but a physical assault inside the assembly is beyond limits and calls for strict disciplinary action.
A History of Political Tensions
The violent episode comes just weeks after an earlier confrontation between the opposition and the government. On June 27, during a speech by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers protested inside the house. They surrounded the speaker’s dais and raised slogans, resulting in a complete breakdown of order.
In response, Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan suspended 26 opposition members for 15 sittings. Additionally, ten of them were fined Rs200,000 each for damaging public property during the protest. He also filed disqualification references with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the suspended lawmakers, citing unparliamentary conduct.
Speaker Reinstates Opposition Members
Despite the harsh disciplinary actions, a turn of events followed. Acting Speaker Zahid Iqbal Channar reinstated the 26 suspended lawmakers in early July. His decision was portrayed as a gesture of goodwill, aimed at creating a healthier political atmosphere. He noted that allowing the opposition members back into the assembly would help improve the image of the legislative process.
The reinstatement came after several rounds of negotiations between the government and opposition, which also led to the halting of no-confidence motions against nine opposition-held committee chairmanships. Prior to this, four opposition chairpersons had already been removed from their posts.
Speaker Rejects Disqualification Requests
Speaker Malik Ahmed Khan later dismissed the disqualification petitions filed against the 26 PTI lawmakers. In his written decision, he stressed that the role of the speaker should not be reduced to that of a mere postman who forwards requests to the Election Commission without scrutiny.
He warned that such unchecked processes could undermine the constitutional structure of the assembly and limit the scope of freedom of expression within the house. His ruling emphasized the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum while respecting members’ rights to dissent.
A Test for Democratic Maturity
Monday’s violent clash has once again spotlighted the fragile political climate in Punjab. While efforts have been made to bring both sides to the negotiation table, the assembly remains a battleground of unresolved tensions.
Observers are calling for greater restraint and adherence to democratic values from both the government and the opposition. As the largest provincial legislature in Pakistan, the Punjab Assembly must lead by example in preserving decorum and ensuring that political disagreements are resolved through dialogue—not physical confrontation.
