LAHORE, Nov 5: The Election Commission of Pakistan came under fire in the Punjab Assembly on Monday for committing a ‘mistake’ in the dual nationality declaration form.

“In the form, the ECP calls women legislators ‘daughter of/widow of’. Where is the word ‘wife of’? It is outrageous and the ECP should have given a second reading to the form before sending it to the assembly members,” PPP’s Azma Bokhari said. She said it was surprising that none of the assembly members noticed this glaring mistake by the ECP.

Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhud, who was in the chair, said it was not a big issue. It might be a ‘typographical’ mistake, he added.

Another PPP legislator, Nazim Husain Shah, protested the decision to get the dual nationality form signed by lawmakers before the assembly secretary, saying it amounted to insulting the members.

During the Question Hour, on PML-Q’s Dr Samia Amjad’s query about BS-19 vacancies in the Punjab Dental College, parliamentary secretary on health Dr Saeed Elahi said: “Dr Samia should not worry about appointment on merit as the Punjab government even gave promotion to her husband to BS-20.”

Dr Samia got furious and took it as a personal attack. Dr Elahi insisted that he only talked about pro-merit policy of his government.

The proceedings began over two hours behind the schedule. The chair adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday (today) at 10am after Usman Bhatti pointed out quorum.