Govt stops issuance of production orders for Zardari, Rafique: sources

Yousuf Talpur had signed their production orders but assembly secretariat has now sent the matter to the law ministry

The government on Monday stopped issuance of production orders for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, barring them from attending the National Assembly and standing committee meetings.



An Express News report quoted sources as saying that Chairman Standing Committee on Water Resources Yousuf Talpur had signed production orders for both the leaders to attend the sessions on July 10 and 11.

However, assembly secretariat sent the matter to the ministry of law without issuing any production orders.

Sources claimed the speaker office contacted concerned officials of the assembly secretariat, asking them to refrain from issuing production orders for the PPP and the PML-N leader immediately.

“The matter related to the production orders for Zardari and Rafique has been suspended and to do so, their political activities have been made as a reason,” sources added.

“The concerned authorities have written a note on the production order summary that both the leaders do politics in the parliament.”



Protesting on the matter with the assembly secretariat, Talpur said, “Chairman standing committee is authorised to issue production orders as per the rules.”

The production orders for Zardari were issued previously to attend industries and production committee meetings on July 8 and 9.