Acting Senate chairman suspends three PTI senators

ISLAMABAD: Acting Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan on Tuesday suspended membership of three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senators for the remaining sittings of the current session, as the party demanded his resignation over a “controversial” decision of withholding the result of voting on the the State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill a day earlier.

He read out his ruling after the bumpy question hour was over, saying: “I direct the sergeant-at-arms to expel senators Aon Abbas, Humayun Mohmand and Falak Naz from the House…These members are considered suspended for the remaining sittings of the (ongoing) session”.

Amid noisy protest by the PTI senators demanding from the acting chairman to resign, Syedaal Khan adjourned the House sitting with a direction again to the sergeant-at-arms to expel the three senators from the Senate, while the opposition shouted slogans asking him to apologise, step down and announce the vote count result.

At the outset of Tuesday’s sitting, the acting chairman read out his ruling that some members of the opposition while putting aside parliamentary traditions were violating sanctity of the House and challenging the authority of the chair through inappropriate language.

“At least three members of opposition used inappropriate language during Monday’s sitting,” he added. He urged the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to help guide him to ensure sanctity and decorum of the House.

He ruled that the bill seeking to amend the SBP Act had been deferred because the government objected to it, contending that it was in conflict with Article 74 of the Constitution. “I want to make it clear that the voting on the bill could not be held, which was the reason that the result of the count was withheld,” he said trying to pacify the opposition members.

Khan said in Monday’s sitting, three opposition members not only used inappropriate words but their behaviour was against the dignity of the Parliament. He clarified that under Rule 13, Rules 245 and 246, he had the power to order the expulsion or suspension of such members from the House.

The acting chairman conceded that what he had said on Monday was not meant to hurt anyone but he directed the secretariat to “expunge” those words from the proceedings. He also clarified that he made gestures because by speaking loudly like a vehicle’s horn, an attempt was being made to influence the House atmosphere. He added that through noisy protests attempts were being made since long to spoil the House proceedings.

“Whenever a serious matter is discussed or business is carried out, some members disregard the sanctity of the House, putting aside parliamentary norms and challenging the chair by using indecent words,” he complained. He then referred to Monday’s sitting and claimed that some members used improper words and their conduct was not in conformity with what was expected from a lawmaker.

However, he said he decided not to exercise these powers and expressed the hope that the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition would support and guide him in maintaining the sanctity of the House.

The chair noted that the House could not be run by anyone’s wishes and personal agenda, adding he would follow the law and rules of business and would not come under pressure.

Throughout the question hour, the PTI senators staged a rowdy protest in the House, with some of them assembling before the chair’s podium and throwing up torn copies of the agenda.

Earlier, responding to acting chairman’s ruling at the start of the sitting, the Leader of the Opposition Shibli Faraz disagreed with him, saying the bill was considered in the House for voting after passing through laid down procedure and the result of the count could not be withheld under the rules of business.

He said the role of the deputy chairman or presiding officer was to moderate the House proceedings and not to become a party. “We have witnessed that you become a party, whereas it is the right of the opposition to protest and disagree with the government. You as acting chairman even used unparliamentary language for the opposition members during the Monday’s sitting,” he alleged.

“We demand that you apologise to the senators, tender your resignation and announce the result of vote count,” he continued.

Law and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the chair had shown tolerance and explained the issue while showing a big heart. He regretted that the opposition senators did not care about rules. He urged the protesting senators to avoid disrupting the proceedings and let the question hour begin. “People look towards you for solution of their problems,” he remarked.

PTI lawmakers chanted slogans like “Give respect to the vote”, “Give respect to the chair”, “Resign deputy chairman, and bring back (Chairman Senate) Gilani”, “Who will rescue Pakistan, Imran Khan, Imran Khan”.