Pakistan’s Punjab govt moves to strip opposition of key assembly roles

The provincial government in Pakistan Punjab has begun the process of withdrawing chairmanships of 13 key standing committees from opposition lawmakers in the assembly, escalating political tensions in the country's most populous province.

The move follows a series of no-confidence motions passed against four suspended opposition members, with the Punjab Assembly Secretariat issuing official notifications for their removal.

Ansar Iqbal was removed as chair of the Standing Committee on Special Education. Rai Murtaza was dismissed as head of the Professional Management Committee. Ahsan Ali was stripped of the Standing Committee on Colonies, while Saima Kanwal lost her position as chair of the Standing Committee on Education.

Notices for similar no-confidence motions are also being submitted against other suspended opposition members who currently lead committees. Officials said these moves are expected to be finalized soon.

Suspensions weaken opposition

The effort comes in the wake of the suspension of 26 opposition members last week, after scenes of disruption and vandalism in the Punjab Assembly. The Speaker had ordered the suspensions and imposed fines exceeding PKR 2 million on ten lawmakers.

The suspensions not only reduced the opposition's numerical strength but also left it without the constitutional ability to call a session of the assembly. Under assembly rules, 93 signatures are required to convene a session, but the opposition is now left with only 79 active members.

By stripping the opposition of key committee positions, the ruling coalition is tightening its grip on legislative processes in the province, sparking concerns about the shrinking space for dissent in the assembly.

Opposition parties have yet to issue a unified response to the moves.

Disruptive protests

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan had suspended 26 opposition lawmakers for 15 sessions on Friday following disruptive protests during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's address to the provincial legislature.

The suspensions were issued under Assembly Rule 210 after opposition members tore up agenda papers, hurled pieces at government benches, and used what the Speaker termed "offensive and unparliamentary language" during the CM's speech.

The protests erupted when Nawaz responded to PTI leadership's recent comments about former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif being politically sidelined.

The suspended members violated multiple assembly rules, including provisions against interrupting speakers, maintaining silence, and engaging in disorderly conduct. Opposition members also allegedly blocked treasury members' pathways with threatening gestures.

Of the 26 suspended lawmakers, 17 belong to the Sunni Ittehad Council, which became the political home for PTI-affiliated candidates after the party lost its election symbol, while eight are directly listed as PTI members.