LAHORE:
The president of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, has offered an opportunity for the 26 suspended members of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) to present their case on Friday in their Chamber, under article 10-A of the Constitution.
The MPA had been suspended by Khan due to their disruptive, abusive and rape conduct during a session of the Assembly. The decision occurs after they caused a uproar and sang indecent slogans during the discourse of Punjab Prime Minister, Maryam Nawaz, on June 16.
The opposition leader, Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachaha The express trustee These consultations with their legal team are ongoing with respect to the offer of the speaker. When asked if they would take this opportunity, Bhachar declared that a decision would be made during his parliamentary meeting on Friday.
A reliable source, which speaks under anonymity, said The express trustee That most PTI’s MPA are inclined to accept the speaker’s offer to present his case. His goal is to ask Khan if the MPA can be suspended for protesting during a speech by the principal minister.
Read more: Punjab speaker moves to disqualify 26 MPA
It is important to keep in mind that the speaker has also received references for the disqualification of these MPA suspended under article 63 (2), read with article 113 of the Constitution. He is obliged to decide these references within 30 days, as stipulated by the Constitution.
The suspended PTI MPA list includes: Malik Fahad Masood (PP-13), Muhammad Tanveer Aslam (PP-19), Syed Riffat Mehmood (PP-24), Yasir Mehmood Qureshi (PP-25), Kaleem Ullah Khan (PP-60), Muhammad Ansar Iqbal (Pp-73), there, there, there. In (Pp-141), pp-141), pp-141), pp-141), pp-141), pp-141), pp-141), pp-14. Imtiaz Mehmood (PP-155), Ali Imtiaz (PP-156), Tufail Rashid (PP-175), Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal (PP-203), Khalid Zubair Nisar (PP-231), Chaudhry Muhammad Ejaz Shafi (PP-258), Samia Kanwal), Samia Kanwal), Samia Kanwal) Samia Kanwal (PP-260), Muhammad Naeem (PP-263), Sajjad Ahmad (PP-265), Rana Aurang Zaib (PP-276), Shuaib Ameer (PP-281) and Usama Asghar Ali Gujjar (PP-282).
These MPA were suspended on June 27, according to rule 210 (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab, 1997, for their disruptive behavior and song of indecent slogans during the speech by CM Maryam.
In a related matter, Khan has also sought the recovery of damage due to RS2,035,000 of 10 PTI MPA (RS203,550 each). The amount is to cover the damages for the assembly of desks and break eight microphones during the protest on June 16, when the provincial government presented its budget.
Read too: Punjab MPA: PTI promises legal battle, protests
On June 28, he took more measures against the opposition Mpa Hassan Malik (PP-81) for launching a book of budget speeches to the Minister of Finance Mian Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman. Khan ordered that Malik remains absent from the assembly to the prorogation of the current session.
In a ruling issued on June 24, the speaker emphasized the importance of maintaining the decorum and dignity of the assembly. He said that all members, regardless of political affiliation, must defend the dignity of the Assembly to ensure that parliamentary procedures continue without interruption.
“I will take all the measures within the legal framework to maintain the order and defend the dignity of this Chamber of August and its members,” Khan warned, responding to the affirmation of the leader of the Bhachar opposition that the protest is a constitutional right.
To clarify whether the right to protest and freedom of expression in the Assembly has reasonable limitations, the speaker referred to rule 223 of the rules of procedure, promulgated under article 67, read with article 127 of the Constitution. This rule establishes a code of conduct for members in the Assembly, ensuring that their behavior is aligned with the principles of decorum and order.
