-Unparliamentarily behaviors led Speaker to suspend Session for 3rd day
-Govt committee meets opposition lawmakers to discuss NA code
-PM wants Speaker to ‘act as per law’
-Asad Umar accuses opposition MPs for unpleasant situation
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Wednesday barred seven MNAs, including three from the PTI, from entering the House after budget books and expletives were thrown during Tuesday’s session.
In a tweet, the NA speaker said that members who disrupted the session during Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s speech have been barred from entering the House as their behaviour was “unparliamentarily” and “inappropriate”.
He also shared a picture of the order which said that the conduct of the MNAs during Shehbaz’s budget speech on June 14 and June 15 was “grossly disorderly”.
“They violated the rules and, despite the repeated direction of the chair, interrupted House proceedings,” it said.
Ali Gohar Khan (PML-N), Chaudhary Hamid Hameed (PML-N), Sheikh Rohale Asghar (PML-N), Faheem Khan (PTI), Abdul Majeed Khan (PTI), Ali Nawaz Awan (PTI) and Syed Agha Rafiullah (PPP) have been told to not enter the precinct of the Parliament House till further orders. Awan is also Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority Affairs.
A separate statement issued by the NA Secretariat said that the ban on the MNAs would last until further orders. “The NA Secretariat has issued instructions to the concerned MNAs and to the assembly security,” it said. The decision comes after the National Assembly turned into a battleground on Tuesday as the opposition and treasury members scuffled with each other and threw budget documents and books when the latter continued their noisy protest to disrupt Shehbaz’s budget speech for a second consecutive day. On Wednesday, NA Speaker adjourned the assembly minutes after it started as treasury members continued their protest for the third consecutive day to disrupt Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s budget speech. Surrounded by sergeants, Shehbaz tried to deliver his speech amid sloganeering from the treasury benches but was cut short.
Meanwhile, Qaiser repeatedly called on the parliamentarians to be seated, but eventually adjourned the session after an object was thrown at the speaker’s dais.
He ordered for whoever had thrown the object to be escorted from the House and said he would take action against the individual responsible. “I will not conduct this House (NA) until both the government and the opposition [settle their matters],” said Qaiser before walking out, adjourning the session till tomorrow.
Speaking about the incident, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar claimed in a tweet that the opposition had “attacked” within minutes of the session’s start. He added that PTI lawmaker Muhammad Akram Cheema was also injured by a bottle thrown at him. “Worried by the economic improvement and popular budget, the opposition wants to run away from discussion on the budget in the House by engaging in confrontation.”
Earlier in the day, Qaiser met Prime Minister Imran Khan during which the country’s political situation and the ruckus in the National Assembly came under discussion. The NA speaker said that the premier was informed about the incident, adding that those who had violated the sanctity of the House would be punished.
PM wanted the situation to handle peacefully and urged Speaker to ‘act as per law’ over Assembly rumpus.
The NA speaker also telephoned Shehbaz and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and exchanged views on keeping the environment in the House “pleasant” during the budget sessions, according to a statement by the NA Secretariat. During the call, Qaiser said that Tuesday’s ruckus in the Parliament was “saddening”, stressing that keeping the environment pleasant was the joint responsibility of the government and the opposition.
He asked the parliamentary leaders of all parties to play their role in this regard, the statement added. Shehbaz and Bilawal agreed with the NA speaker and assured him of cooperation in keeping the parliament’s environment peaceful, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, a four-member committee of the federal government Wednesday met the opposition lawmakers to discuss the code of conduct of the National Assembly.
The four-member committee was comprised of a federal minister, special assistant and two lawmakers from the government’s coalition parties. The committee members include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief whip in the National Assembly (NA) Amir Dogar, Ali Muhammad Khan, Khalid Magsi and Iqbal Muhammad Ali.
They discussed the recommended code of conduct to improve the NA proceedings, however, the opposition leaders have avoided holding a detailed discussion on the matter. The opposition leaders excused to immediately provide names for their inclusion in the committee.
Moreover, the opposition lawmakers sought more time to hold consultation with the party leadership before continuing the talks for finalising a code of conduct for the House. The meeting was held in the chamber of the opposition leaders. The committee members said that the government wants to take immediate steps to maintain democratic behaviour in the House for taking forward the parliamentary proceedings under a code of conduct.
Earlier on Monday, the federal government has finalised a draft code of conduct for maintaining discipline and improving the proceedings in the National Assembly (NA). Under the regulations, the NA speaker will provide assistance and respect the policy-making, whereas, he will be authorised to take action against those delivering unparliamentary and objectionable remarks.
The privacy of each lawmaker will be respected and filming the video will not be allowed inside the house. Lawmakers will not be allowed to move towards the seat of the political opponents while holding placards nor anyone will be permitted to raise slogans and protest in front of the speaker’s dice. It further stated that the legislator will have a right to record the protest while staying at own seat and all lawmakers will only be allowed to deliver speeches addressing the NA speaker.
