LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan has announced that he will give up his official perks and salary to support students working as interns in the Assembly.
Speaking at a press conference, the Speaker said he is committed to promoting discipline and democratic values in the House. “As long as I remain Speaker, my salary and benefits will go to student interns,” he said.
He also expressed concern over the recent disorder in the Assembly, including incidents that happened just a day earlier.
Malik Ahmad Khan warned that if disruptions continue, he will take action under Rule 223 of the Assembly rules. “Removing someone from a session is not a punishment, but if any member creates disturbance during public hearings, it will be treated as a serious violation and legal action will be taken,” he warned.
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He stressed the importance of maintaining order and respecting parliamentary traditions. “Every member has the right to speak. This is the foundation of democracy. But if someone interrupts another member, it’s not acceptable. The Assembly should run by rules, not chaos,” he said.
The Speaker also criticized the opposition’s behavior during the recent budget session. He pointed out that tearing and throwing budget documents, and interrupting the finance minister’s speech, was inappropriate.
“The budget speech is an important matter that involves national policy, salaries, and public funding. Disrupting it is not a constitutional right,” he said. “While I’ve always allowed the opposition to raise its voice, damaging the Assembly’s discipline cannot be allowed.”
