Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly ends standoff, reinstates suspended lawmakers

A weeks-long political impasse in Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly ended Thursday after the government and opposition reached an agreement to reinstate 26 suspended opposition lawmakers.

The breakthrough came during the third round of talks between both sides. The suspended lawmakers will now return to the assembly and take part in the upcoming Senate elections.

“Today was the third session of the negotiation committee, and it proved to be productive. We have reached a consensus with the opposition,” Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman told reporters after the meeting.

He said both sides had agreed to uphold parliamentary decorum in future proceedings.

“There will be no abusive language, sloganeering, or disruptions in the coming sessions,” he said. “When the Opposition Leader speaks, there will be no interruptions, and the same goes for the Chief Minister’s speech. The assembly will now be run according to the Business Advisory Committee’s recommendations.”

Rehman said the Ethics Committee would also be activated to review any violations of assembly rules after each session.

“The opposition did not demand reinstatement of the suspended members,” he added. “The matter of suspension will be handled by the Speaker. However, the 26 opposition members are now allowed to vote in the Senate elections.”

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, who joined the meeting via audio link from abroad, also addressed the participants and thanked both sides for engaging in dialogue.

“The right to vote cannot be taken away from any member under any circumstances,” he said. “I thank all of you for taking part in the negotiations. Protest is the opposition’s right, but it must take place within constitutional bounds. Congratulations to everyone on the successful conclusion of these talks.”

The dispute began June 27, when opposition lawmakers disrupted Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s speech during the budget session. In response, the Speaker suspended 26 members for 15 sittings. Ten of them were fined over PKR 2 million (about $7,200) for damaging public property. Disqualification references were also filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Talks between the government and opposition began shortly after the suspensions but failed to make progress until Thursday’s meeting.

With the suspended lawmakers now reinstated, the assembly is expected to resume regular legislative business.