PML-N, PTI lawmakers exchange insults; chair expunges remarks
The National Assembly on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members during the ongoing budget session, with repeated use of unparliamentary language that was later expunged by the speaker.
The House, presided over by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw sharp verbal confrontations as opposition. government lawmakers clashed over various political and budgetary issues, at times pushing the proceedings close to disorder.
Former speaker Asad Qaiser, speaking on a point of personal explanation, launched a strong attack on Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, demanding his resignation. raising questions over political negotiations and alleged electoral conduct.
He claimed that negotiations involving intelligence officers had taken place at his residence. even at the Speaker's House during discussions on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-related legislation. However. he questioned why, in his view, the defence minister's conscience had not been troubled over the "mandate theft", including that of PTI leader Rehana Dar.
Asad Qaiser also referred to the February 8, 2024 elections, alleging electoral irregularities,. challenged Khawaja Asif to resign and contest against Rehana Dar if he had any doubts about the mandate.
During the session. National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government had introduced several schemes for farmers in the budget. He added. the tax system was being linked with a faceless mechanism to ensure that no taxpayer could be blackmailed.
The house also witnessed a tense exchange during Rana Tanveer Hussain's speech, when PTI lawmaker Aatif Khan raised objections, triggering a war of words between members of the treasury. the opposition benches.
The situation escalated to the point where members from both sides moved towards each other,. colleagues intervened to prevent the confrontation from worsening. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, later, criticised the budget and demanded withdrawal of "an unconstitutional" faceless system.
In another incident. during the speech by PML-N MNA Azhar Qayyum Nahra, criticism of PTI founder Imran Khan led to protests from opposition member Shafqat Awan, who responded with unparliamentary language.
The remarks were returned in kind. prompting women parliamentarians to stage a protest over the use of inappropriate language in the house. The situation was eventually defused with the intervention of Minister of State Talal Chaudhry and other members.
The budget debate also saw exchanges between Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members. PPP MNA Naz Baloch, without naming the MQM-P, raised pointed questions relating to the Baldia Town tragedy, extortion activities,. "china-cutting" in parks.
In response, MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan said those involved in large-scale corruption had been allowed to remain in politics,. added that complaints regarding Sindh's deprivation were evidence of the failure of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, calling for its reversal.
PPP member Shazia Marri urged that no obstacles be created in the formation of a PPP-led government in Gilgit-Baltistan. demanded that Islamabad International Airport be renamed after Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Amid the heated exchanges. Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, who was chairing the session at one point, warned members that he would be compelled to suspend proceedings if discipline was not maintained in the House.
The session saw noticeably low attendance after the Maghrib prayer break. with only 19 members present in the house, while the budget debate continued. The sitting was later adjourned until 11am Thursday.
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