PTI lawmakers Javed Nasim and Arbab Jehandad started fighting when fellow party member Shaukat Yousufzai asked for permission to raise the issue of private school fees taken in advance. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR: A scuffle broke out between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPAs in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday, forcing the deputy speaker to adjourn the session.
PTI lawmakers Javed Nasim and Arbab Jehandad started fighting when fellow party member Shaukat Yousufzai asked for permission to raise the issue of private school fees taken in advance.
Jehandad attacked Nasim, but he managed to escape unscathed when other lawmakers intervened and held the two back. Nasim then tried to come near Jehandad’s seat, exchanging fiery words along the way.
Deputy Speaker Dr Mehar Taj looked confused as Yousufzai was also shouting at her, while members were busy cooling down the squabbling MPAs. As a result, Roghani thought it best to adjourn the session for 15 minutes.
Opposition members of the house protested against the adjournment and demonstrated in front of the speaker’s chair.
Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nighat Orakzai shouted slogans at government members for using abusive language in the house where members bring forth locals issues and legislative business.
They shouted “chor machai shor” slogans. After the 15-minute break, when the members reentered the house, the quorum was incomplete and legislative business could not continue. Finally, the deputy speaker adjourned the sitting till May 25.
Speaking to the media later on, Jehandad and Nasim levelled accusations at each other. Jehandad accused Nasim of using offensive words against PTI and its chief Imran Khan. “He was abusing my leader; how could I tolerate it?” he asked.
Nasim, on other hand, accused Jehandad of abusing COAS General Raheel Sharif and the Pakistan Army. “He was drunk and abusing,” said Nasim, adding he would lodge an FIR against Jehandad.
Arbab Wasim Khan sworn in
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ‘s Arbab Muhammad Wasim Khan, the winner of the PK-8 by-election, was sworn in before the deputy speaker. He swore to remain loyal to the country and strive for provincial progress under the Constitution.
Members of the house from all parties welcomed Wasim and paid tribute to his predecessor Arbab Akbar Hayat who died of heart attack. PML-N leader Sardar Aurangzeb Nalota thanked political parties for accepting the victory of Wasim and PML-N. “The results have proved that Nawaz Sharif is the voice of all provinces.”
PCS issue
JUI-F’s Lutfur Rahman raised the issue of PCS officers who were protesting at the Civil Secretariat against the chief secretary and demanding his removal. “It is the first of its kind in the history of the province that people who run the management of the province have stopped working and have started protesting,” he said. “The government is not taking them seriously.”
He deplored the situation, saying it was sad that these officers were calling for the removal of the chief secretary who was responsible for protecting their rights in the province.
Minister for Irrigation Sikandar Sherpao responded to Rahman and said the chief minister formed a committee of which he was one of the members. He added they are working over the issue and have held meetings with protesters and the chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2016.
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