- Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Hamid Raza and Gohar Ali are part of the committee.
- The body will make recommendations on parliamentary matters.
- Khawaja Asif calls the arrival of masked men in Parliament “shameful”.
ISLAMABAD: Pursuant to the motion passed by the National Assembly, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday constituted an 18-member special committee to resolve issues related to the House.
The development came hours after the government and the opposition, in the wake of the arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers inside the Parliament premises, unanimously adopted a resolution agreeing to constitute a committee to resolve issues related to the House.
Among others, the special committee includes Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, Gohar Ali Khan and Muhammad Akhtar Mengal.
The committee includes an equal number of lawmakers from the Ministry of Finance and the opposition.
According to a circular issued by the NA Secretariat, “In pursuance of the motion adopted by the National Assembly on 11th September 2024, in accordance with Rule 244 (B) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of the National Assembly, 2007, the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly has been pleased to constitute a special committee with the following composition and terms of reference (TOR).
The committee's terms of reference include discussing, analysing and “making recommendations on matters relating to parliament, parliamentarians, the Constitution, the rules of procedure and conduct in the National Assembly, 2007 and the proper functioning of parliament.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the resolution, moved by Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, called for the constitution of a parliamentary committee comprising Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) from both the Treasury and the opposition to discuss, analyse and propose recommendations on issues related to parliament and its proper functioning.
The development came as the Speaker was presiding over the lower house session against the backdrop of heightened political tensions following the arrest of several PTI lawmakers for allegedly violating the newly enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024 over the party's public rally held in Islamabad on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the Speaker had also suspended the House Sergeant-at-Arms and four other security officials over the security lapse that led to the lawmakers being allegedly arrested by Islamabad police and masked men inside the NA premises.
Two wrongs do not make a right
Speaking during the National Assembly session on Wednesday, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq recalled the tenure of PTI founder Imran Khan and regretted the denial of production orders by then President Asad Qaiser.
The PTI government did not issue production orders to our members during its tenure, Sadiq said.
However, he maintained that “two wrongs do not make a right” and stressed: “I do not agree with what your [PTI] The government's actions. Not issuing production orders was not the right thing to do at the time. [and] “It's not the right thing to do now.”
“I will do whatever is appropriate, whatever is required, and whatever is necessary to [upholding] respect of Parliament,” he added.
The speaker also said he would try to get to the bottom of what happened.
“A committee will be formed today so that the work will begin from the same day,” Sadiq said while inviting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar to meet him after the assembly session is adjourned.
Masked men and police in Parliament, a disgrace
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called the arrival of masked people and the entry of police into parliament shameful and “a violation of the sanctity of the House”.
Speaking in the lower house today on issuing production orders against the arrest of PTI lawmakers, he said, “I have no objection if the President issues the production order for the arrested lawmakers.”
Asif, while condemning the “crossed lines” by the PTI during its rally on Sunday, added that the arrival of the police marks a loss for parliament as an institution.
PTI to find a way out for the country and democracy
Speaking in the National Assembly, senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan said a meeting was held with leaders of Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties in which issuance of the production order was discussed.
He said the House Speaker had verbally told the Inspector General of Police that a summons would be issued and he should produce the lawmakers. However, he added that the Islamabad police have not complied with the Speaker's order.
“Masked people entered Parliament and this issue was raised yesterday. [Tuesday]”The PPP and other parties also agreed with us,” the PTI leader said.
He added that the Inspector General of Islamabad, on enquiry, said the masked persons were not his.
PTI Chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan said production orders do not require a written application and he hopes they will be issued soon.
“After the decision of the president, a written request is not necessary and a production order is our right,” the party leader added.
Gohar further told the speaker that they want the Parliament and political forces to be strong.
Referring to the protest, Gohar said it was an excuse and that the target was party members. “We have always stressed on negotiations and finding a way out for the sake of the country and democracy.
The attack on Parliament is “unjustified and highly condemnable”
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai told President Ayaz that he stands with him on the need to ensure the supremacy of Parliament and keep the institutions within their constitutional ambits.
“We are with you in defending the supremacy of the Constitution, strengthening Parliament and keeping every institution within the scope of the Constitution,” he said during his speech at the National Assembly.
Achakzai added that the events that unfolded during the PTI political event did not call for an attack on the Parliament House.
“It is unacceptable to use Ali Amin Gandapur's words as an excuse to attack Parliament,” he said, adding that the attack was unjustified and highly condemnable.
