LAHORE, Dec 3: Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan on Friday did not allow a minority MPA to speak on Aasia Bibi’s conviction in a blasphemy case that prompted his colleagues to walk out while the chair failed to stop a legislator from expressing his emotions on the issue.

Minority MPA Joel Amir Sahutra on a point of order wanted to speak on Aasia Bibi case with reference to “controversial” blasphemy law, but the speaker refused to give him the floor, terming the topic “sensitive”.

Protesting against speaker’s attitude, the minority members, except minister and secretary for human rights and minorities Kamran Michael and Khalil Tahir Sindhu, walked out of the House.

However, on the request of PPP rebel Sajida Mir, the speaker asked Sindhu and Ijaz Ahmed Khan to bring the minority members back.

Though the protesting members ended the walkout, they submitted a resolution to the assembly secretariat demanding constitution of a judicial commission at provincial as well as federal level to investigate all the cases registered under Section 295-B of the PPC. The resolution further demands framing of a new law to prevent misuse of the sections 295-B and 295-C.

The speaker failed to stop Ali Haider Noor Niazi of the MMA from speaking emotionally on the issue. Labour Minister Ashraf Sohna pointed out that Niazi was carried away by emotions and said something what he should not have. The women legislators also protested against Niazi’s remarks. Agreeing with Sohna, the speaker expunged Niazi’s remarks. — Staff Reporter