No MPA takes part in debate on PA agenda.

LAHORE -- The Punjab Assembly seems to be improving its own record of 'disinterest and irrelevance' by the session as on Friday, not even a single member, in the House of 370, took part in the discussion on yearly report of the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

The House had 36 members - 34 from the Treasury and two from the Opposition - when the minister for law and parliamentary affairs opened the debate. His two-minute eulogy of the PPSC failed to elicit any response.

Mehwish Sultana of the Opposition claimed that the Treasury had brought up the debate without informing them (the Opposition).

'I was surprised to see the agenda in the morning, which included the debate on the important institution like the Punjab Public Service Commission. How can one debate and discuss such an important institution without preparation? This is routine legerdemain: Treasury includes debates at the last moments to escape thorough discussion and possible criticism.'

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Basharat Raja sidetracked the last minute inclusion issue and took the criticism to the Opposition. 'They must show some interest in the proceedings. The government has brought two incarcerated members of the House on production orders so that they contribute to the process. If they have to sit outside the House and deal with other (political) issues, it would only put a question mark to production order,' he said.

The House moved on to the next issue though one of the Treasury female member tried to point out gender imbalance in the PPSC.

Even otherwise, the Friday sitting was 55-minute affair. The House started proceedings at 10:55am - late by 115 minutes - instead of 9am and terminated at 11:47am. It ran through the question hour in less than 30 minutes as the House took up only three questions on Zakat and...