Sheikh Rashid episode causes ruckus in NA
Opposition leader shows pictures of Awan with top PML-N leaders; criticises govt for making JIT controversial
AML chief Sheikh Rashid. PHOTO: AGENCIES/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A discussion in the National Assembly about Thursday’s episode in which an alleged PML-N supporter misbehaved with Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed outside the Parliament House led on Friday to a ruckus because of which the day’s entire agenda had to be dropped.
The National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s frequent interventions to cool down the situation remained futile and he had to suspend the proceedings for 15 minutes to put the house in order.
At the start of the session, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah on a point of order raised the issue of maltreatment with Rashid on the premises of the Parliament House on Thursday.
Malik Noor Awan, reportedly a PML-N supporter, had intercepted AML chief on the premises of the house and demanded that Rashid ‘pay him back’ Rs2.2 million, which, Awan claimed, Rashid owed him.
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The opposition leader said as the custodian of the house, it was responsibility of the speaker to safeguard the rights of the elected representatives.
“However, the person in question was issued a pass after the incident on the recommendation of the Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and he was released soon after his arrest,” Shah added.
Shah then showed pictures of Awan with the PML-N’s top leaders including the prime minister and the president – a move that created extreme disorder in the house.
The PML-N’s lawmakers Mian Abdul Mannan and Abid Sher Ali strongly reacted to Shah’s speech and started hurling allegation at the PPP leadership.
PML-N worker held for 'intimidating' Sheikh Rashid outside Parliament
The speaker tried to calm down the situation by asking Rana Tanvir and Shaikh Aftab to take Abid Sher Ali out of the hall. He also warned the agitating government lawmakers that he would use sergeants at arms –the NA’s security personnel – if they did not comply with his order.
Apparently irked by the ruckus created by the treasury benches, the speaker once asked if they ‘can’t control themselves’. “Mian Sahib you’re in the government or the opposition?” he also inquired of Mannan.
However, the opposition and the treasury legislators continued to shout slogans against each other for around 20 minutes. As his efforts to normalise the situation failed, the speaker suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes
When proceedings of the house resumed, Khursheed Shah said return of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif to the country was made possible through the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated by former President Pervez Musharraf in Oct 2007.
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Criticising government for targeting the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the ruling family’s offshore assets in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict in Panamagate case, Shah said now the government was calling the JIT a ‘butcher shop’ and ‘007’.
“However, 007 is the right name [for the JIT] as 007 nabs mafia men and prosecutes wrongdoers,” he added.
Shah also raised the issue of arrest of MNA Jamshed Dasti and asked the speaker to issue his production order. He also advised the PM that instead of inquiring after Indian PM Narendra Modi’s family, he should ask him when he would stop shedding blood of Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir.
Deputy Speaker Javed Abbasi also clarified his position in relation to Thursday’s controversy and denied the charge of issuing pass to Awan only after he misbehaved with Rashid. However, he confirmed that his office had issued him a pass to enter the Parliament House.
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Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said the person involved in the incident had been arrested and an FIR registered against him in Secretariat Police Station. “He was presented before the court today and further investigations into the incident are under way,” he added.
Talking about the JIT probing the Panama Papers case, Rehman said the PML-N believed in supremacy of law and the prime minister had presented his family for the accountability.
Speaking about the issue of Dasti’s arrest, the speaker said the production order will be issued on Dasti’s request. The house will now meet on Monday afternoon at 4pm.
A discussion in the National Assembly about Thursday’s episode in which an alleged PML-N supporter misbehaved with Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed outside the Parliament House led on Friday to a ruckus because of which the day’s entire agenda had to be dropped.
The National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s frequent interventions to cool down the situation remained futile and he had to suspend the proceedings for 15 minutes to put the house in order.
At the start of the session, Leader of Opposition Khursheed Shah on a point of order raised the issue of maltreatment with Rashid on the premises of the Parliament House on Thursday.
Malik Noor Awan, reportedly a PML-N supporter, had intercepted AML chief on the premises of the house and demanded that Rashid ‘pay him back’ Rs2.2 million, which, Awan claimed, Rashid owed him.
NA condemns Iran attack, urges Pak role over Gulf crisis
The opposition leader said as the custodian of the house, it was responsibility of the speaker to safeguard the rights of the elected representatives.
“However, the person in question was issued a pass after the incident on the recommendation of the Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and he was released soon after his arrest,” Shah added.
Shah then showed pictures of Awan with the PML-N’s top leaders including the prime minister and the president – a move that created extreme disorder in the house.
The PML-N’s lawmakers Mian Abdul Mannan and Abid Sher Ali strongly reacted to Shah’s speech and started hurling allegation at the PPP leadership.
PML-N worker held for 'intimidating' Sheikh Rashid outside Parliament
The speaker tried to calm down the situation by asking Rana Tanvir and Shaikh Aftab to take Abid Sher Ali out of the hall. He also warned the agitating government lawmakers that he would use sergeants at arms –the NA’s security personnel – if they did not comply with his order.
Apparently irked by the ruckus created by the treasury benches, the speaker once asked if they ‘can’t control themselves’. “Mian Sahib you’re in the government or the opposition?” he also inquired of Mannan.
However, the opposition and the treasury legislators continued to shout slogans against each other for around 20 minutes. As his efforts to normalise the situation failed, the speaker suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes
When proceedings of the house resumed, Khursheed Shah said return of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif to the country was made possible through the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated by former President Pervez Musharraf in Oct 2007.
For PTV coverage: Opposition boycott enters 10th day
Criticising government for targeting the joint investigation team (JIT) probing the ruling family’s offshore assets in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict in Panamagate case, Shah said now the government was calling the JIT a ‘butcher shop’ and ‘007’.
“However, 007 is the right name [for the JIT] as 007 nabs mafia men and prosecutes wrongdoers,” he added.
Shah also raised the issue of arrest of MNA Jamshed Dasti and asked the speaker to issue his production order. He also advised the PM that instead of inquiring after Indian PM Narendra Modi’s family, he should ask him when he would stop shedding blood of Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir.
Deputy Speaker Javed Abbasi also clarified his position in relation to Thursday’s controversy and denied the charge of issuing pass to Awan only after he misbehaved with Rashid. However, he confirmed that his office had issued him a pass to enter the Parliament House.
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Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said the person involved in the incident had been arrested and an FIR registered against him in Secretariat Police Station. “He was presented before the court today and further investigations into the incident are under way,” he added.
Talking about the JIT probing the Panama Papers case, Rehman said the PML-N believed in supremacy of law and the prime minister had presented his family for the accountability.
Speaking about the issue of Dasti’s arrest, the speaker said the production order will be issued on Dasti’s request. The house will now meet on Monday afternoon at 4pm.