NA speaker issues production orders for arrested PTI members

PTI delegation, led by Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, successfully secured production orders for its arrested MNAs

ISLAMABAD:

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) delegation, led by chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, successfully secured production orders for its arrested members of the National Assembly, following a meeting with Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday.

The PTI delegation, which included Dawar Kundi and Ali Muhammad Khan, met the speaker in his chamber to request the release orders.

Barrister Gohar said, "You announced yesterday that production orders would be issued, but they have not yet been released to bring our arrested members to the assembly. You made a verbal promise yesterday, and we are here today for the written orders."

Later, speaking to the media outside the Parliament House, Barrister Gohar confirmed that Speaker Sadiq had issued the production orders for the arrested PTI members. "All the members will be present in the house tomorrow," he added.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly’s Sergeant-at-Arms, Ashfaq Ashraf, has been suspended for four months, along with four other security personnel, following arrests made within the parliament building.

The speaker suspended the officers after a review of the incident in which several arrests were carried out on the premises. Security Assistant Waqas Ahmed and Junior Security Assistants Ubaidullah, Waheed Safdar, and Muhammad Haroon were also suspended for their involvement in the incident.

These suspensions come after police entered the National Assembly earlier in the week, arresting several PTI leaders, including Sahibzada Hamid Raza, leader of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), along with Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Sher Afzal Khan Marwat, and Advocate Shoaib Shaheen.

The arrests occurred following a PTI rally in the capital, which defied recent emergency laws hastily introduced before the event.

‘Charter of parliament’

Speaker Sadiq has also proposed a 'charter of parliament' to be signed between the government and opposition, aimed at fostering better cooperation despite ongoing leadership tensions.

During today’s session, Sadiq addressed parliamentarians, suggesting that regardless of whether party leaders agree, members of parliament could still work towards signing a cross-party charter. He stressed that the initiative would strengthen parliamentary conduct and collaboration.

The assembly session saw disruptions from PTI members, demanding the issuance of production orders for arrested lawmakers.

Pakistan People's Party leader Khursheed Shah intervened, calling for PTI members to be allowed to speak.

Referring to a past incident, Sadiq mentioned that production orders for arrested members were not issued during the PTI government but assured that he would act in the best interests of parliament, stating, "I will do what is right."

He also announced the formation of a committee to address the matter promptly.