Suspended MPAs split over protest limitation
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) 26 suspended MPAs are divided over making any commitment regarding their right to protest in Punjab Assembly.
"Majority of them do not support humiliating, abusive and violent conduct at any cost but will not compromise their right to protest in the garb of devising a strategy on how to run the house proceedings," an insider wishing not to be named told The Express Tribune.
He quoted the lawmakers as saying as if Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is the red line for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the PTI also has similar concerns.
However, he said, a few of the members were of the view that negotiations should be continued while avoiding a hard line, but the majority were asserting that they could face the reference but would not compromise their right to protest.
The latter contend that negotiations must be held on stopping humiliation, abuse and violation of rules but the opposition should not accept the role of a mere spectator.
Sources said various options were discussed among the lawmakers facing action over disruption of assembly proceedings, especially those that they believed the PML-N could place before them. The dominant view among the suspended MPAs was that they could not afford to confine themselves to their seats or protest as per the ruling party's wishes in the garb of democratic norms.
The government has proposed the names of 11 MPAs, of whom eight belong to the PML-N and one each to PPPP, PML-Q and IPP, for the negotiating committee. The PML-N lawmakers are Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Rana Arshad, Sami Ullah Khan, Khawaja Slaman Rafique, Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry, Iftikhar Hussain Chachar, Amjad Ali Javed and Rahila Khadim Hussain. The names of PPPP's Ali Haider Gillani, PML-Q's Shafay Hussain and IPP's Shoaib Siddiqi have also been floated.
However, no name from the opposition has been proposed.
After the opposition's members are nominated, the negotiating committee will be officially formed by the assembly secretariat.
The MPAs were suspended after the opposition disrupted a speech of the CM on June 27. Treasury and opposition members got embroiled in a scuffle while Speaker Malik Mohammed Ahmed Khan made efforts in vain to pacify the situation.
He later suspended 26 PTI MPAs under Rule 210 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997.
Speaker Khan also sought on June 28 the recovery of damage amounting to Rs2.035 million from 10 PTI MPAs over mounting on desks and breaking eight microphones during their protest on June 16, when the provincial government presented its budget.
The speaker had earlier barred opposition MPA Hassan Malik from attending the assembly session till its prorogation for hurling a copy of the budget speech towards Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.
On June 24, Speaker Khan gave a ruling, stating, "I emphasise, all members, regardless of their political affiliation, in order to preserve decorum, uphold the dignity of this august assembly, and ensure that parliamentary proceedings can continue without disruption."
He warned that in future, "I shall take all the steps within the legal framework to maintain order and uphold dignity of this august house and its members."
The speaker gave the ruling in response to Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar's assertion on a point of order that protest is a constitutional right.
Speaker Khan declared that Rule 223 of the Rules of Procedure, enacted under Article 67 read with Article 127 of the Constitution, provides the code of conduct to be observed by members in the assembly.