Anarchy can’t be permitted in the guise of protest:  PA speaker

LAHORE, Oct 02 (APP): Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has said that anarchy cannot be allowed to spread under the pretext of protest.

Addressing a press conference at the Punjab Assembly on Friday, he noted that over the past 12 years, since 2014, there have been five instances where mobs were mobilised and Islamabad was besieged, causing unrest. He emphasised that attacking the federation through such mobs poses a major challenge, with repercussions for the country’s economy.

He recalled that in the past, mobs traveled from Peshawar to Islamabad, with calls made to besiege the Supreme Court and demonstrate strength on the streets. He mentioned the 2014 demand by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to open four constituencies and the events of May 9, during which 29 locations, including military installations, were damaged.

He asserted that such actions fall outside the scope of legitimate political rights. He added that the Constitution does not permit violent protests and that overcoming current challenges is a collective responsibility. The Punjab Assembly speaker stated that the impact of protest convoys repeatedly traveling from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to Islamabad must be assessed, noting that the law-and-order situation in KP is also a significant issue. He warned that if mob mobilisation towards Islamabad occurs again, the potential consequences must be considered, as the Constitution does not sanction actions that harm state institutions, the economy, or the capital.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad criticised the unannounced load-shedding and alleged corruption within Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO). He claimed that certain LESCO officials demand exorbitant sums from citizens in exchange for services, including installation and repair of transformers. Complaints regarding eight-hour-long power outages have emerged from various areas, including Khudian and Kanganpur, an incident also occurred where a child was severely burned by exposed live wires, a hazard that had been reported repeatedly over several months.

The PA speaker stated that the matter of alleged corruption in LESCO had been referred to the Assembly’s inquiry committee, noting that he possessed a list and records concerning the allegedly corrupt officials. The findings of the committee, along with the details of the case, would be forwarded to the prime minister.