LAHORE, June 30 (Alliance News): The Punjab government has ramped up its campaign to politically isolate the opposition by initiating a strategic removal of opposition members from key positions in the provincial assembly.
In a major development, no-confidence motions against the chairpersons of four standing committees have succeeded, and official notifications for their removal have been issued.
Sources in the Punjab Assembly confirmed that Ansar Iqbal has been removed as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Special Education, Rai Murtaza Iqbal has been ousted from the Professional Management Committee, Ahsan Ali has lost his position as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Colonies, and Saima Kanwal has been removed as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Education.
The Punjab Assembly Secretariat issued formal notifications confirming the removals, marking another blow to the already embattled opposition.
The crackdown comes at a time when 26 opposition lawmakers remain suspended following disruptions during the provincial budget session, weakening the opposition’s numerical and political strength in the assembly.
Officials revealed that the government is now preparing no-confidence motions against additional opposition-held committee chairs.
The opposition currently holds chairmanship of 13 important standing committees, including Auqaf and Energy — positions that the ruling party is now aggressively targeting. Sources say fresh no-confidence notices are being submitted today.
The fallout from the recent suspensions has been significant. With 26 members suspended, the opposition’s strength in the 371-member house has dropped to 79 active members, far short of the 93 signatures required to requisition a session under assembly rules.
The numerical shortfall has significantly hampered the opposition’s ability to challenge the government through procedural means.
Previously, the opposition’s total strength stood at 105 members, giving it considerable influence in the Assembly, including leadership of key committees. However, that influence has now been severely diminished. Speaker of the Punjab Assembly has indicated that further disciplinary action may be taken, including the possibility of sending references against some of the suspended members.
The current political climate in the Punjab Assembly reached a boiling point during the budget session held on June 16, 2025.
The session was marred by chaos, including vandalism and damage to government property allegedly caused by opposition lawmakers. These events were cited by the government as justification for the mass suspensions.
Analysts say that the ruling coalition appears to be systematically reducing the opposition’s role and presence in the legislative process, further tipping the balance of power in the house.
The ongoing political standoff is likely to intensify in the coming weeks as both sides prepare for more legal and procedural battles inside and outside the Assembly.
