MP seeks record of NA floor standoff to submit reply

Dares speaker to provide video clip, photos and names of MNAs who felt offended

ISLAMABD:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Chaudhry Hamid Hameed has dared the National Assembly speaker to provide certain record of the proceedings so that he could answer a letter issued to him over alleged violation of the decorum of the lower house of parliament.

The PML-N lawmaker asked Asad Qaiser to provide him a complete video clip of the 28th session of the assembly, photos of the MPs showing inappropriate gestures and videos of the MNAs using abusive language. In addition, Hameed asked the speaker to give him the names of the members who felt offended because of his two “derogatory” slogans.

“It would be better to constitute a parliamentary committee as it would not be in your power to give me the record,” Hameed stated in his response to the letter. He said he would submit a detailed reply once the record was provided to him.

Acknowledging receiving the “Mohabat Nama” [Love Letter], wherein he was directed to submit a reply within seven days, Hameed stated: “I am not a servant of someone’s father that the additional secretary informs me through a letter”, adding that he needed the material to answer the letter.

Upon reading his response to the letter, Hameed told The Express Tribune that the official concerned said that there was no need to take the matter further as everything would be fine in a few days. Hameed said he, however, told the official that he would take the matter to a suitable end.

Days after lawmakers scuffled in the lower house of parliament, Qaiser had issued notices to Hameed, PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar and PTI’s Attaullah, seeking explanation from them for violating the decorum of the house.

Qaiser had issued letters to three MNAs under Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007 after examining the evidence and pursuing record of the proceedings of February 4 — the day when lawmakers used most of their time in the assembly to spew out a nonstop torrent of the most unparliamentary language possible.

The usual “thief, dacoit and corrupt” verbal spat reached the next level when lawmakers hurled abuses and took part in a brawl that took place around the deputy speaker’s desk.

Declaring the incident as “highly condemnable”, Qaiser had announced taking appropriate action to maintain order and to regulate the proceedings. The house will resume proceedings on February 26 (today).

Separately, Speaker Qaiser directed the National Assembly Secretariat to seek an explanation from PPPP MNA Agha Rafiullah on a written complaint filed by MNA Begum Shaheen Saifullah Toru.

In a letter addressed to Rafiullah and its copy endorsed to PPPP leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the MNA has been asked to explain his position on the allegations levelled against him within seven days.

The complainant in her letter addressed to the speaker accused Rafiullah of using insulting words during a session of the assembly on February 2.

MNA Shaheen requested disciplinary action in accordance with relevant provisions of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. In her letter, she stated that turning a deaf ear to such an insulting attitude would amount to promoting and supporting morbid practice in parliament.