Won't tolerate anti-state remarks: NA speaker

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday drew clear red lines for parliamentary discourse, declaring that statements directed against Pakistan, the judiciary or the armed forces would not be permitted on the floor of the House.

According to a handout issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, the speaker made the remarks during a visit to the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore, where he stressed that parliamentary speech must remain within constitutional and legal bounds.

"Negative or controversial remarks on the role of the judiciary, the armed forces of Pakistan and judges are unacceptable," Sadiq said, adding that any remarks against the armed forces were "intolerable". He stressed that only speech falling within the ambit of the law and the Constitution would be allowed in the House.

"Those who speak against Pakistan will not be allowed to express their views on the floor of the National Assembly," he was quoted as saying. Reaffirming his role as custodian of the House, the speaker said he would continue to act impartially in enforcing parliamentary rules.

While emphasising restrictions on speech, Sadiq also acknowledged that protest was a democratic right, but cautioned that it must be peaceful and lawful.

"There is no room for arson, damage to life and property or vandalism," he said, warning that the "use of sticks and weapons" posed a threat to the rule of law.

The remarks come just over a month after Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar issued similar directions in the upper house, barring criticism of "national heroes" and political leadership.

Speaking amid dissent from opposition benches, Nasar had said, "You cannot speak against political heroes who suffered martyrdom, went into exile, worked for the nation and the country, conducted nuclear tests, and made [the] nuclear bomb".

He later vowed to enforce the ruling and, in an informal interaction with journalists, reiterated that derogatory or disrespectful remarks against national heroes, could not be tolerated within parliament.