PA issues sanitized production order for Aleem Khan

LAHORE: While a production order issued by Punjab Assembly speaker for former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) minister Khawaja Salman Rafique clearly stated that he was under investigation for a housing society scam, the other production order was silent over the nature of allegations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) former senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan.

Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s production order issued for PML-N’s former health minister read: “Khawaja Salman Rafique is in the custody of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for investigation against management, developers of Paragon City (Pvt) Ltd, Lahore”. While the other production order issued for PTI’s former senior minister read: “as per media reports, Abdul Aleem Khan is in the custody of NAB Lahore”.

However, the production orders were issued to the authorities concerned to ensure their presence in the assembly chambers on February 20.

“I, Pervez Elahi, Speaker Provincial Assembly of Punjab, consider the presence of Abdul Aleem Khan and Khawaja Salman Rafique necessary during the current session and therefore exercise the powers conferred on my by rule 79-A of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997. I hereby summon Abdul Aleem Khan and Khawaja Salman Rafique to attend the said session at the assembly chambers. The authority concerned is directed to produce them at the commencement of each sitting of the said session before the serjeant-at-arms who shall, after the conclusion of sitting, deliver them back into the custody of the said authority”.

The PA made history on January 15 by issuing its first production order for Khawaja Salman Rafique after an amendment to the rules. The speaker also issued a production order for Aleem Khan who is facing an inquiry by NAB for accumulating assets beyond his known means of income.

PTI members applauded the role of speaker Pervez Elahi and vowed that the government would do whatever lengths it takes to make democracy stronger. They paved the way for the issuance of production order.

Opposition members observed it was pleasant to notice that members across the divide had favoured the amendment. They said the house comprised of politicians and it was necessary to strengthen and empower the assembly. Assuring complete cooperation in any move to strengthen parliament, the opposition said they would join hands with the government in this case.

Like the National and other provincial assemblies, Punjab Assembly’s speaker was empowered to summon a member from custody to attend a sitting of the house. The PA speaker could issue a production order through an Amendment of Rule 79.

Under the fresh rule ie 79-A (1), “the speaker may, of his own motion or on the written request of a member in custody on the charge of a non-bailable offence, summon the member to attend a sitting or sittings of the Assembly, if the speaker considers the presence of such member necessary.”

Rule 79-A (2) stated that on a production order under sub-rule (1), signed by the secretary or by any other officer authorized in this behalf, addressed to the government or the authority where the member is held in the custody, the government or such authority shall cause the member in custody to be produced before the serjeant-at-arms, who shall, after the conclusion of the sitting, deliver the member, into the custody of the government or the authority concerned.