Speaker asks govt, PML-N to sort out banned MPAs’ issue

PML-N lawmakers were suspended for 15 sittings for hooliganism in the House

After the remarks of Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi that the assembly will not be dissolved for the next four months, it seems that Speaker Sabtain Khan is also willing to reconsider his decision of suspending 18 PML-N MPAs from the House for fifteen sittings.

Speaker Sabtain Khan took stern action against 18 lawmakers of PML-N for hampering the assembly’s proceedings on October 22 when former chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was moving the resolution against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision of disqualifying former prime minister Imran Khan. The notification issued by the Speaker’s office said that the derogatory remarks were uttered by the PML-N MPAs against senior leadership of PTI. It further added that the lawmakers tried to disrupt the assembly proceeding by blowing whistles despite repeated warnings by the Speaker.

MPAs Mian Abdul Rauf, Samiullah Khan, Malik Muhammad Waheed, Azma Bukhari, Saba Sadiq, Raheela Naeem, Rabiya Nusrat, Rabia Farooqui, Zaibun Nisa Awan, Zeeshan Rafiq, Kanwal Liaquat, Gulnaz Shehzadi, Nafeesa Amin, Muhammad Afzal, Adil Bukhsh, Saadia Nadeem, Rahat Afza and Sumbal Malik Hussain of PML-N were barred from entering the House or assembly premises for fifteen consecutive sittings.

On Monday, when the session started, Chief Whip of PML-N Khalil Tahir Sandhu drew the attention of the Speaker towards the issue of suspended MPAs. “You are a man of principles and I have a lot of respect for you. I request you to reconsider your decision of suspending our fellow colleagues,” MPA Khalil Tahir Sandhu requested the chair. He cited the rules of procedures of the Punjab Assembly and said that the MPA can be suspended for 15 days and not for fifteen sittings in gross misconduct but the story is altogether different here.

“Only you can revert the suspension,” PML-N’s Chief Whip said to the Speaker. After listening to him patiently, the speaker directed the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and chief whip of PML-N to sit together and sort out the issue. Earlier, PML-N had also staged a walkout from the House against the Speaker’s decision but they also showed patience on Monday and it seems that the issue will now be resolved amicably. It was earlier being speculated that the PTI had suspended the lawmakers of PML-N to decrease its number game in the House to avoid any move of in-house change or vote of confidence. The conduct of Speaker shown on Monday reveals that the matter of Punjab Assembly is being resolved amicably through dialogue as Chief Minister Parvez Elahi has also said that the assembly will not be dissolved during next four months. After doing some legislation on Monday, Speaker later adjourned the House by December 19 at 2 PM.