Opposition disapproves petrol price hike in chaos-struck session.

LAHORE -- The Punjab Assembly witnessed complete chaos on Monday as the Opposition strongly protested against exorbitant hike in the prices of petroleum products. The House witnessed ugly scenes of legislators standing up and chanting full throat slogans against the present regime. The legislators from across the political divide accused each other for the prevailing economic conditions.

Opening discussion on supplementary budget for the year ending 30 June (today), PPP parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza regretted that whenever the prime minister took notice of increase of price of any commodity, it led to further hike in the rate and shortage of the product.

He referred to statements issued on behalf of PM Imran Khan announcing that he had taken notice of the increase in rates of medicines, sugar, wheat flour, etc., but regrettably each of the statement further deteriorated the situation instead of the solving the problem.

He said the PM had talked of dealing with the mafia strictly but, in fact, he came down to pleading with the same mafias.

He said that earlier all the Punjab budget used to be spent for Lahore and since Usman Buzdar became the chief minister all the funds were being allocated for DG Khan leaving nothing for other districts.

As former speaker Rana Iqbal took the floor and talked of exorbitant hike in oil prices, PML-N legislators stood from their seats and began chanting slogans of 'sugar thief', 'flour thief', 'petrol thief', and 'Go Niazi Go'. Legislators capturing videos of protest on cell phones irritated Deputy Speaker Dost Mazari who ruled that these infringed upon privilege of the House.

He then referred the matter to an inquiry committee on...