PA speaker bans 18 PML-N MPAs

MPAs accused of hampering proceedings during a resolution against the disqualification of Imran Khan

LAHORE:

Speaker of the Punjab Assembly (PA) Sibtain Khan on Monday banned the entry of eighteen Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers for the duration of fifteen proceedings of the provincial legislature.

The action was taken due to their alleged misconduct by hampering the house's proceedings on October 22, when former chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was presenting a resolution against the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) decision of disqualifying former premier Imran Khan.

The notification issued by the assembly secretariat stated that the aforesaid lawmakers "made a hue and cry" when the resolution was being presented.

"I (speaker) requested them not to hamper the proceedings of the House but they continued raising slogans, used derogatory remarks, and blowing whistles," the statement noted.

The chair repeatedly called the house in order but to no avail. The business of assembly was severely hampered by the unruly and grossly disorderly conduct of the above-said lawmakers, according to the statement.

"By taking serious notice of the situation, in the exercise of the powers conferred on me under rule 210 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997, I ordered the above said members to withdraw immediately from the House. But the said members continued hampering the proceedings," said the speaker.

Read Punjab PA seeks CEC’s removal

Other members present in the house had demanded to take immediate action against the lawmakers who were not obeying the speaker’s repeated requests.

Banned lawmakers

The banned MPAs include Mian Abdul Rauf (PP-138), Sami Ullah Khan (PP-144) Malik Muhammad Waheed (PP-156), Azma Zahid Bukhari (W-333) Rabia Naseem Farooqi (W-351), Rahila Naeem (W-356), Zaib-un-Nisa Awan (W-360), Zeeshan Rafique (PP-42), Kanwal Pervaiz Ch. (W-341), Gulnaz Shehzadi (W-342), Nafisa Amin (W-359), Rana Muhammad Afzal (PP-40), Chaudhary Adil Buksh Chttha (PP-52), Saida Nadeem (W-335), Rahat Afza (W-345) and Sumbul Malik Hussain (W-357).

It should be noted that on October 20, the PA speaker adjourned the house till October 26. However, the ECP decision to disqualify Imran Khan came the following day and the speaker summoned the House on October 22.

On October 22, former chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar presented a resolution which later passed with a majority demanding the removal of the chief election commissioner (CEC). The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also rejected the ECP’s decision.

In the session, the PMLN’s lawmakers protested by carrying anti-PTI placards. They chanted slogans and continued blowing whistles despite repeated requests of the speaker not to do so.

The PTI’s lawmakers including irrigation minister Muhammad Hashim Dogar demanded action against the misconduct of the the lawmakers who hampered the proceedings.