The government and the opposition on Wednesday found a rare common ground and unanimously passed a resolution for the constitution of a 16-member committee for resolving issues related to the National Assembly amidst the political turmoil triggered after the alleged arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from within the Parliament House premises.
Tabled by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the resolution demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee consisting of members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from both treasury and opposition benches to discuss, analyse and propose recommendations regarding issues related to parliament and its smooth functioning.
The development came as Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the lower house's session against the backdrop of heightened political tensions following the arrest of several PTI lawmakers for allegedly violating the newly enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024 about the party's public rally held in Islamabad on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the speaker had also suspended the House's Sergeant at Arms and four other security officials for the security lapse which saw lawmakers being allegedly arrested by the Islamabad police and masked men from within the NA's premises.
Speaking today during the NA session, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq recalled PTI founder Imran Khan's premiership and lamented the denial of production orders by the then-speaker Asad Qaiser.
The PTI government didn't issue production orders for our members during its tenure, Sadiq said.
However, he maintained that "two wrongs did not make a right" and remarked: "I do not agree what your [PTI] government's actions. Not issuing production orders was not the right thing to do then [and] it is not the right thing to do now".
"I will do what is appropriate, what is required and what is necessary for [upholding] the parliament's respect," he added.
The speaker further said that he would try to get to the bottom of what happened.
A committee shall be constituted today so that the work commences from the same day, Sadiq remarked while inviting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar to meet him after the assembly's session is adjourned.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed the arrival of masked persons and the entry of the police into the Parliament House shameful and “a violation of the sanctity of the House”.
Speaking on the floor of the lower house today about the issuance of production orders against the arrest of PTI lawmakers, he said: “I have no objection if the speaker issues the production order of the arrested MNAs.”
Asif, while condemning the “lines crossed” by the PTI during its Sunday rally, added that the arrival of the police is a loss of parliament as an institution.
Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan, speaking in the National Assembly, said that a meeting was held with the leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties wherein the issuing of the production order was discussed.
He said that the speaker verbally told the inspector general of police that there would be a production order and that he should produce the lawmakers. However, he added that the Islamabad police have not implemented the speaker's order.
"The masked people came inside the Parliament House and this issue was raised yesterday [Tuesday]. The PPP and other parties also agreed with us," the PTI leader said.
He added that the Islamabad IG, upon asking, said that the masked people were not theirs.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the production orders do not require a written application, hoping they would be issued soon.
"A written request is not required after the speaker's ruling and a production order is our right," the party chief added.
Gohar further told the speaker that they want the Parliament and the political forces to be strong.
Speaking about the rally, Barrister Gohar said that the rally was an excuse and the target was the party members. "We have always stressed negotiations and finding a way out for the sake of the country and democracy.
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai told Speaker Ayaz that he stands with him about the need for ensuring the Parliament’s supremacy and keeping the institutions with their constitutional ambits.
“We are with you in upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, strengthening parliament and keeping every institution within the purview of the Constitution,” he said, during his speech in the NA.
Achakzai added that the developments that unfolded during PTI’s political event do not mandate an attack on the Parliament House.
“It is unacceptable to use Ali Amin Gandapur's words as an excuse to attack parliament,” he said, adding that the attack was unjustified and highly condemnable.
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