LAHORE, Feb 9: Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) MPAs walked out of the Punjab Assembly on Monday for not allowing them to table an adjournment motion about what they called “misuse” of national exchequer in the development of a “palace” like residence of the Sharifs in Raiwind.

Opposition Leader Chaudhry Zaheeruddin told reporters all utilities were provided at the state expenses at the 1,600 acres residence of the Sharifs in Jati Umra.

Even though he did not say that his party was highlighting the issue to diminish the impact of Moonis Elahi’s alleged land deal, but he said it would respond in a “befitting” manner if the PML-N did not stop raising the “dead” issues.

The assembly took up the issue of the land deal last week and is scheduled to debate it again on Tuesday (today).

Zaheeruddin said under the rules a motion tabled in the last assembly session could not be presented in the present one. “The PML-N instead should highlight the issues confronting the masses and not try to settle old score.”

During the question hour which began 70 minutes behind its schedule at 4:10pm, PML-Q’s Mohsin Leghari on a point of order tried to draw the attention of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal to admission of an adjournment motion (against Moonis) which he called against the assembly rules. He was joined by his party legislators when the speaker asked him to take his seat.

Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhud replaced Rana Iqbal at 4.40pm and told the opposition members that the assembly rules had been followed. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said 62 MPAs had voted for the motion therefore the opposition should not have any objection over it.

None of the opposition raised the issue, which Chaudhry Zaheeruddin talked about outside the assembly, on the point of order. Without showing their intention, the opposition members headed by their leader walked out of the house at the time when the chair announced Maghrib prayer break for 15 minutes.

When the session began, Mr Mashhud asked about the absence of the opposition. A PML-N legislator informed the house that the opposition had walked out. The chair asked the treasury to call them back but Senior Minister Raja Riaz said since some opposition members (forward bloc) were present in the house the proceeding must go on.

The house also adopted a resolution condemning bombing at a police check post in Mianwali and paid tributes to those who died in the attack. The house also prayed for the health of Hakim Ali Zardari, the father of President Asif Zardari.

Mr Sanaullah and Saeed Akbar Nawani exchanged pleasantries. Nawani on a point of order referred to someone sitting in the visitors’ gallery. The law minister was quick to respond that a seasoned politician like Mr Nawani should observe rules and regulation of the house.

On a call attention notice, the law minister also assured the house that the murders of PPP Lahore president Malik Shahid Imtiaz would be arrested in a couple of days. He said the prime minister had also been taken into confidence over the issue.

The house was adjourned to meet on Tuesday (today) at 10am.