3 PTI MPs suspended for rowdy protest

Acting chairman defers State Bank Amendment Bill

ISLAMABAD:

Acting Senate Chairman Syedal Khan Nasir on Tuesday suspended three PTI lawmakers for the current session, after the opposition's rowdy protest in the house, including sloganeering for his resignation

Nasir, the acting chairman, suspended senators Aun Abbas, Humayun Mohmand, and Falak Naz Chitrali and ordered their removal from the house. He said that he would run the house as per law and would not give in to the opposition's demands.

At the outset of the session, Nasir gave an explanation and ruling on Monday's incident. He said that the gestures made the other day were not meant to hurt anyone's feelings. He also ordered for expunging his remarks from the proceedings.

He said that three opposition members gave inappropriate statements, but he would not suspend them for that. He announced that the State Bank Amendment Bill was in conflict with Article 74 of the Constitution, adding that he was postponing the bill until those constitutional issues were resolved.

However, Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz objected, saying that as per the Senate Rules, the chair was supposed to announce the result of the voting. Faraz demanded the resignation of Nasir, alleging that he used derogatory remarks against the opposition.

Later, the opposition senators gathered in front of the dais and raised slogans, demanding Nasir's resignation and return of the Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani to the house. Nasir said that he would not run the house on anyone's wishes, and announced the Question Hour.

However, the opposition members continued their vociferous protest. The parliamentary affairs minister criticised the opposition. Nasir also mocked the opposition saying that this was their training.