Punjab Government and Opposition Agree on Assembly Conduct, Reinstate 26 MPAs

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The Punjab government and opposition have forged a consensus to restore order in the Punjab Assembly, paving the way for the reinstatement of 26 suspended Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs). This agreement, finalized after heated negotiations, aims to curb disruptive behavior and ensure respectful proceedings. This article explores the deal, its implications, and the challenges of maintaining civility in a polarized political arena.

On July 17, 2025, the negotiation committee, led by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, concluded its third meeting with a breakthrough, as reported by The Frontier Post. The 26 MPAs, suspended for disrupting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s budget speech on June 27, will be reinstated, with voting rights restored for the upcoming Senate elections, according to Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. “We’ve agreed to ban abusive language and sloganeering to maintain decorum,” Rehman told the media, emphasizing that the Business Advisory Committee will guide future sessions. The Ethics Committee will also monitor violations, ensuring accountability.

The suspensions stemmed from a chaotic session where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers, alongside Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members, protested Nawaz’s address, hurling insults and damaging property, including eight microphones, costing over Rs2 million, per Dawn. Speaker Khan had initially filed disqualification references with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), a move criticized as excessive. Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, while welcoming the resolution, stressed that protests are a democratic right, telling Geo News, “We’ll ensure our voice is heard, but respectfully.” The agreement sidesteps written commitments demanded by the government, a sticking point that had threatened to derail talks.

This deal signals a rare moment of compromise, but skepticism remains. The PTI’s history of confrontational tactics and the government’s heavy-handed response suggest tensions could resurface. Restoring decorum requires mutual trust, not just rules. As Punjab’s assembly moves forward, the challenge lies in balancing free expression with order, ensuring the legislature serves the people, not political egos.