By disrespecting NA speaker, Nisar does not deserve Opposition leader post: Khuhro

Khuhro maintains Chaudhry Nisar violated sanctity of parliament, urges lawmaker to move censure motion against him.

KARACHI: Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Friday criticised comments made by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan against Speaker National Assembly.

Chaudhry Nisar, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA), had lashed out at Dr Fehmida Mirza, Speaker NA, for declaring that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's conviction for contempt of court did not disqualify him from the House.

Khuhro, who is the speaker of the Sindh Assembly, maintained that by disrespecting the speaker’s ruling, the opposition leader violated the sanctity of the parliament and was no longer eligible for his post.

While advising lawmakers to bring a censure motion against Chaudhry Nisar, Khuhro told the media on Friday, “If I was a member of the National Assembly, I would have brought a censure motion against Chaudhry Nisar for his attitude against the speaker.”

Referring to a book “Practice and Procedure of Parliament”, Khuhro stated, “It is a well established parliamentary practice in all commonwealth countries that the speaker of a parliament has the right to interpret the Constitution and rules, as far as the matter relates to the House.”

He added, “The speaker was not bound to give reasons for his/her decisions. Members can not criticise directly or indirectly, inside or outside the House against any ruling or opinion given by the speaker”.

Khuhro also termed Chaudhry Nisar as an “illiterate” person for passing remarks against Sindhi culture.

When asked about a privilege motion moved against Chaudhry Nisar in the Sindh Assembly, Khuhro said that Chaudhry Nisar had shown disrespect for the assembly’s Standing Committee by not appearing and clarifying his statements against the Sindh culture. “The Sindh’s privilege committee has the power to make any decision against him if he fails to appear before it.”