PA speaker moves to de-seat 26 MPAs

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has directed a legal team to prepare a draft reference for consultation, before potentially submitting it to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to seek the de-seating of 26 suspended PTI MPAs over their alleged disruptive, abusive and disorderly conduct in the House.

The directive came during a meeting between the speaker and legal experts, after an initial determination that a reference could be filed based on applications submitted by PML-N lawmakers, urging the speaker's office to take action against the suspended members.

Following detailed deliberations, it was decided to proceed with the reference. A subsequent meeting was held in which legal advisers assisted the speaker, who then formally tasked them with drafting the appropriate reference to be filed with the ECP.

It is worth noting that protest has historically been a recognised feature of parliamentary proceedings.

Opposition lawmakers are often seen engaging in fiery exchanges, desk-thumping, slogan-chanting, tearing up agenda papers or budget documents and holding placards aloft.

However, the situation in the current Punjab Assembly has taken a more punitive turn. The treasury benches, which had long tolerated such demonstrations, began demanding restraint, particularly during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's addresses, urging the opposition to protest peacefully without disrupting proceedings.

Despite occasional cooperation from the opposition, including refraining from interrupting the House by remaining seated rather than crowding the speaker's dais, the PTI's members intensified their protests during the CM's speech on June 27.

Their conduct appeared even more aggressive, reportedly in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on reserved seats.

The protest quickly escalated into a scuffle between treasury and opposition lawmakers. Despite Speaker Khan's repeated efforts to pacify the situation, order could not be restored.

Consequently, on the same day, invoking Rule 210(3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab (1997), the speaker suspended 26 PTI MPAs.

In a further tightening of disciplinary measures, on June 28, the Speaker directed that Rs2,035,000 in damages be recovered from 10 PTI MPAs, approximately Rs203,550 each, for climbing onto desks and breaking eight microphones during their protest on June 16, when the provincial budget was being presented.

Earlier, the speaker had ordered that PTI MPA Hassan Malik (PP-81) be barred from attending the Assembly until the end of the current session for hurling a copy of the budget speech at Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.

On June 24, Speaker Khan issued a ruling emphasizing the importance of decorum. "I emphasise ALL members, regardless of their political affiliation, to preserve decorum, uphold the dignity of this august Assembly, and ensure that parliamentary proceedings continue without disruption," the speaker stated.