Irrational behaviour costs 4 MPAs their membership
Challenge suspension in BHC; court reserves judgement
Balochistan Assembly. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
QUETTA:
The membership of four MPAs of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has been suspended for displaying indecent and irrational behaviour against the chairperson of the budget session in the Balochistan Assembly.
Under Rule 204 of Assembly Rules, PkMAP lawmakers Sardar Ghulam Musatafa Tareen, Ubaidullah Babat, Syed Liaquat Ali Agha and Nasrullah have been suspended for trying to raise their hand on MPA Shahida Rauf, who was chairing the session.
Balochistan Assembly session marred by pandemonium
According to details, when Shahida Rauf ordered to ring the bell to call other lawmakers to join the budget session, for no rhyme or reason, PkMAP lawmakers charged at her. Luckily, lawmakers, including Sardar Abdul Rahman Khetran, Dr Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi, Engineer Zamrak Achakzai, Hasan Bano Rukshani, Mir Abdul Karee Nosherwani, Jaffer Mandokhel, Anita Irfan and Asim Kurd Gello, intervened and a scuffle ensued. However, the lawmakers overpowered the PkMAP ones and urged the chairperson to suspend their memberships.
MPA Jan Muhammad Jamali lashed out at the foul language used by the suspended lawmakers, saying that the behaviour was completely against the assembly decorum and traditions.
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“Opposition members are pissed off because they had no role to play in this year’s budget. They wanted to be looped in in the budget proposals, especially for the Public Sector Development Programme funds,” he said. “Like previous years, we believe that this year’s budget should also have seen a peaceful go ahead.”
The attitude of PkMAP MPAs also received strong criticism from opposition lawmakers.
“We ourselves are in opposition but have never used foul language against any woman,” they said. “We are all responsible for maintaining traditions and sanctity of the parliament.”
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They said that those protesting today have been representing the government for over four years during which they had not even respected their opposition.
“The opposition members protest against unfairness with decency, but trying to raise hand on a woman is against the traditions of the house,” they added.
The lawmakers have demanded strong action against obscene remarks made by the suspended MPAs.
“It is shameful that certain members have used foul words against me but I am happy that others have given me a high level of respect,” Chairperson Shahida Rauf said in her remarks. “We must not forget that this holy month advocates us to practice harmony; if the house allows me I will pardon them but a vast majority believes that the behaviour of the MPAs is plain unconstitutional.”
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After mutual agreement by majority of the house, Shahida Rauf suspended the assembly memberships of the four PkMAP lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the four MPAs approached the Balochistan High Court and challenged their dismissal.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Nazeer Ahmad Lango, heard their plea and reserved the judgement.
The membership of four MPAs of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has been suspended for displaying indecent and irrational behaviour against the chairperson of the budget session in the Balochistan Assembly.
Under Rule 204 of Assembly Rules, PkMAP lawmakers Sardar Ghulam Musatafa Tareen, Ubaidullah Babat, Syed Liaquat Ali Agha and Nasrullah have been suspended for trying to raise their hand on MPA Shahida Rauf, who was chairing the session.
Balochistan Assembly session marred by pandemonium
According to details, when Shahida Rauf ordered to ring the bell to call other lawmakers to join the budget session, for no rhyme or reason, PkMAP lawmakers charged at her. Luckily, lawmakers, including Sardar Abdul Rahman Khetran, Dr Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi, Engineer Zamrak Achakzai, Hasan Bano Rukshani, Mir Abdul Karee Nosherwani, Jaffer Mandokhel, Anita Irfan and Asim Kurd Gello, intervened and a scuffle ensued. However, the lawmakers overpowered the PkMAP ones and urged the chairperson to suspend their memberships.
MPA Jan Muhammad Jamali lashed out at the foul language used by the suspended lawmakers, saying that the behaviour was completely against the assembly decorum and traditions.
Balochistan Assembly demands increase in seats
“Opposition members are pissed off because they had no role to play in this year’s budget. They wanted to be looped in in the budget proposals, especially for the Public Sector Development Programme funds,” he said. “Like previous years, we believe that this year’s budget should also have seen a peaceful go ahead.”
The attitude of PkMAP MPAs also received strong criticism from opposition lawmakers.
“We ourselves are in opposition but have never used foul language against any woman,” they said. “We are all responsible for maintaining traditions and sanctity of the parliament.”
Assembly slams Kunduz religious seminary bombing
They said that those protesting today have been representing the government for over four years during which they had not even respected their opposition.
“The opposition members protest against unfairness with decency, but trying to raise hand on a woman is against the traditions of the house,” they added.
The lawmakers have demanded strong action against obscene remarks made by the suspended MPAs.
“It is shameful that certain members have used foul words against me but I am happy that others have given me a high level of respect,” Chairperson Shahida Rauf said in her remarks. “We must not forget that this holy month advocates us to practice harmony; if the house allows me I will pardon them but a vast majority believes that the behaviour of the MPAs is plain unconstitutional.”
PkMAP’s Ziaratwal new opposition leader of Balochistan Assembly
After mutual agreement by majority of the house, Shahida Rauf suspended the assembly memberships of the four PkMAP lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the four MPAs approached the Balochistan High Court and challenged their dismissal.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar and Justice Nazeer Ahmad Lango, heard their plea and reserved the judgement.