Rowdyism during president’s address: NA Speaker suspends membership of Dasti, Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Friday suspended the membership of two PTI-backed independent MNAs for the current session for using abusive language and blowing whistles during the address of President Asif Ali Zardari to the joint sitting of parliament.

The affected Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) were Jamshed Dasti and Muhammad Iqbal.

“I am putting this question to the House after a thorough consideration. I am doing it with pain, as all the limits were crossed yesterday,” he said while placing a motion before the House towards the end of Friday’s proceedings.

The motion said, “Jamshed Dasti and Muhammad Iqbal MNAs used an abusive language and approached the dais of the speaker in a threatening manner, which was unacceptable and should not have been done.”

The motion further detailed their disruptive behaviour, including blowing of whistles and trumpets, chanting objectionable slogans, displaying banners and placards and indulging in a rowdy behaviour, which was unbecoming of a parliamentarian, thus eroding the sanctity of the house.

The motion said the two members also disregarded the speaker’s authority and wilfully disrupted the proceedings.

Citing Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, read with Rule 33 of the Parliament Joint Sitting Rules 1973, the speaker named them and ordered for suspension of their membership of the assembly.

Earlier, during the House proceedings, the speaker twice told the House he would certainly take action against the members responsible for hooliganism in the House during the president’s address.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also termed the behaviour of the opposition members highly condemnable and shameful.

“The opposition members resorted to whistling and approached the dais in the presence of foreign diplomats when the incumbent government is making all possible efforts to attract foreign investment,” Attaullah Tarar said.

Earlier, in a surprising move, PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari led a token walkout of his party members from the National Assembly on Friday. Later, when the PPP members returned to the House, Naveed Qamar, after taking the floor, said when the Sindh police were criticised, they should also be encouraged for providing protection to Japanese nationals.

About criticism of Asif Ali Zardari, he said the president was apolitical personality and he was elected by the parliament to constitutional position.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, a PTI-backed member, said President Zardari was not representing unity of the federation, as he was still the president of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians. “I am talking with reference to Article 56 and Rule 86 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly,” he said.

PTI-backed MNA Omar Ayub Khan, while referring to Article 56 of the Constitution and rules, objected to order of the day, saying there was no debate on presidential address to joint sitting of the parliament at the first sitting of the National Assembly after the joint session.

Earlier, as the opposition leader and other members continued demand for handing over of the house floor, the speaker said he had been demonstrating patience, but would not do so anymore in the situation with regard to any point of order, as it was prerogative of the chair to allow the same or not.

Noor Alam Khan, on a point of order, said unconstitutional task had been done, saying that the chair had administered oath to a woman MNA, who was not party’s nominee. Abdul Qadir Patel of the PPP said the opposition would not be able to speak in the house if they continue to demonstrate attitude, which they did during president’s address to joint sitting of the parliament.

The law minister said PTI government brought back thousands of terrorists to country and a new wave of terrorism started here,” he said. There would be no talks with terrorists at all and they would be responded with power.

On a calling attention notice regarding increase in prices of petroleum products, the law minister, on behalf of the petroleum minister, said prices keep fluctuating. He said the government was bearing loss of Rs45 billion under heads of sales tax and petroleum levy during the ongoing period of 15 days, only to provide relief to masses.

MQM parliamentarian Aminul Haq said that street crimes in metropolitan had been on the rise lately. He said the Inspector General of Police Sindh, instead of serving political interests, should pay attention to increasing crimes in the city.