Punjab; May – December 2021: This year there were plenty of news in the country, mostly from the Punjab, that were grim, almost shocking, unbelievable for any self-respecting state and society. A brief review of these would be useful to spotlight the causes. And this huge province led in anti-Ahmadi activism; so there is some sort of link, visible to a discerning eye.
Pakistani provinces are ruled under the parliamentary system. A chief minister, with his cabinet, is the leader of the house (in Assembly), and is head of the administration. The Assembly thus wields great power, more than in a presidential form of government. The Punjab government is a coalition one — PTI, in league primarily with PML-Q. The latter is led practically by Chaudhry Parvez Elahi who is also the Speaker of the Assembly. PML-Q, although a minority party, thus exercises clout in the Assembly and the government far beyond its numbers.
In this story, we shall first mention from the media, the sort of things happening in the province — only as a sampling of the plight of the society and the state institutions; thereafter we shall reproduce news of the sort of Assembly business conducted by the rulers in the house. The reader can draw his own conclusions.
The Punjab (Some news from the press; May 2021 – December 2021)
- Nine shot dead by dacoits for being ‘police informers’ (in R.Y.Khan)
The daily Dawn; Lahore, October 11, 2021
- Father of five kills wife and commits suicide for abject poverty (in Lalian, Punjab)
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, September 3, 2021
- Ghastly murder of Lankan man in Sialkot shames nation
Mob lynches victim over blasphemy charge, burns body
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 4, 2021
- Five arrested for stripping, assaulting four women in Faisalabad (at 10:30)
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 8, 2021
- Yet another online taxi driver found murdered
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 20, 2021
- FIA refers ‘gang-raped’ boy’s death case to police
The daily Dawn; Lahore, August 10, 2021
- Hindu temple vandalized (in R.Y. Khan)
The daily Dawn; Lahore, August 5, 2021
- Lawyers torture judge who convicted DC, AC
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 1, 2021
- 50pc of Kasur cops tested for drug use found ‘positive’
The daily Dawn; Lahore, June 23, 2021
- 12 prisoners flee Model Town judicial lock-up as police look on
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 7, 2021
- Three cops held for looting family (in Lahore)
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 1, 2021
- Vulnerable groups hit hardest in 2020 in Punjab: HRCP
The News International Lahore, June 26, 2021
- Lahore again tops list of world’s most polluted cities
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 10, 2021
Assembly (and the Rulers) (Some news from the press; May – December 2021)
- Resolution approved (in Punjab Assembly) to hang Khatme Nabuwwat verses in offices
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, September 29, 2021
- Ban on TLP revoked at Punjab govt request
The daily Dawn; Lahore, November 8, 2021
- CS (Chief Secretory) told (by CM) to order Darood Sharif at school assemblies (after the recitation of Holy Quran and before the national anthem).
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 1, 2021
- Boys dance clad as girls video goes viral. Collage sealed. CM (Punjab) takes notice. Commissioner Bahalwpur and Secretary Education told to submit report.
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, December 8, 2021
- Teachers should arrange prayers in school assemblies against smog and respiratory diseases: Parvez Elahi (Speaker PA)
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, December 4, 2021
- PA resolution supports Tableeghi Jamaat
The daily Dawn; Lahore, December 22, 2021
- Recitation of Darud mandatory in (Punjab) schools. Notification issued.
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, December 8, 2021
- Parvez Elahi advises gov’t to ‘shun ego’ while dealing with TLP’s march
The daily Dawn; Lahore, October 30, 2021
- Punjab Assembly Resolution to recite the Holy Quran prior to the National Anthem
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, November 23, 2021
- Punjab Government has ordered that Verses and Ahadith regarding Khatme Nabuwwat be displayed in all public spaces
The daily Dunya; Faisalabad, October 07, 2021
- Punjab Assembly: Resolution adopted to include Khatme Nabuwwat declarations in the Nikah Nama (Marriage deal)
Declaration is essential to ensure that the groom is not a Qadiani: Speaker (Ch. Parvez Elahi)
The daily Dawn; Lahore, October 30, 2021
Notes: 1. All the above Resolutions passed in Punjab Assembly (PA) were unanimous.
2. It was eventually in the closing weeks of this period that the TLP march to the Capital and the horrific murder and burning of Sri Lankan Mr. Kumara materialized in the Punjab.
