The National Assembly was set to debate the resolution on TLP demand regarding the expulsion of the French Ambassador today and Speaker Asad Qaiser was presiding on the session. After PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan spoke, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi rose and exchanged heated words with the Speaker over not being given a turn to speak before someone else. Asad Qaiser said, “You always behave like this,” to Khaqan Abbasi to which Abbasi responded, “I will take off my shoe and throw it at you.” Qaiser told him to remain in his limits and told him to fix his language.
The resolution came after a series of meetings with the TLP and the government. The banned TLP had held the country hostage with violent protests that led to the killing of four police officers and left 800 police officers injured.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has said that the government will present a resolution in the National Assembly (NA) for the expulsion of the French envoy. This comes in the wake of the successful negotiations between the banned Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and the government earlier today.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted that the agreement with the banned TLP was not brought to the NA. Government took action against it on the streets and then banned TLP. Bilawal said that the prime minister did not take the NA into confidence at any stage so if the government did not take parliament into confidence, it is the prime minister’s mess. “Clean up or go home,” tweeted Bilawal.
Agreement wasnt brought to NA, Govt took action on streets, then banned, people killed, over 500 policemen injured, closed internet, PM didn’t make statement in NA, didnt take NA into confidence at any stage. Now PTI wants to hide behind NA. It’s your mess PM, clean up or go home
— Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) April 20, 2021
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and its member parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are attending the NA session. Sources say they will also support the resolution.
Three demands in the resolution ask for a debate on the expulsion of the French ambassador. It also asks that the European Union (EU), especially France, should be told about the sensitivity of this issue. Discussions should be held with all Muslim countries so as to raise it on international forums. The resolution also says that foreign relations will only be decided by the state and not an individual, group or party through any illegal pressure tactics.
The resolution presented before the NA today has been approved for debate. PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi asks for one hour to go over the motion with his party.
A bill seeking criminal proceedings against anyone who defames the military, has been approved by National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior.
The bill, under which the said act is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of Rs500,000 or both, will now be presented before the lower house of the parliament.
According to sources, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have opposed it as a violation of right to freedom of expression.
However, it received the votes of a majority during the NA body’s meeting.
Last year, the National Assembly had introduced the Criminal Law Bill, 2020, to make intentional defaming and insulting the armed forces as a punishable felony.
According to an insertion 500A in the Pakistan Penal Code Act 1860, anyone who deliberately ridicules or slanders the armed forces or member of the armed forces shall be found guilty.
Hina Butt has lashed out at Muhammad Hafeez for congratulating Prime Minister Imran Khan and calling his Vote of Confidence a “Masterstroke”.
Responding to Hafeez’s tweet the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Hina Butt said: “Pakistan was ridiculed in the world for not following corona SOPs and now you are supporting a vote thief.”
“It is better to play cricket with your mouth shut and do not comment on politics,” she added.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Saturday won the crucial confidence vote in the National Assembly, hanging on to power after his finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Sheikh lost the high-stakes Senate seat election earlier in the week. After PM’s victory, many celebrities took to their social media tocongratulate him. Other celebrities who congratulated Khan included Waqar Younis, Gohar Rasheed, Haroon Shahid, Fahad Mirza, Shaan and Feroze Khan.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Saturday won the crucial confidence vote in the National Assembly, hanging on to power after his finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Sheikh lost the high-stakes Senate seat election earlier in the week.
Needing the support of 172 MPs in the 342-seat House to retain its confidence, the prime minister secured 178 votes. PTI has 157 members in the House.
Historic announcement for #PrimeMinisterImranKhan by Speaker Asad Qaiser. With 178 votes, PM wins the Vote of Confidence in National Assembly. Congratulations Pakistan, Insaf Won! Chants of Wazeer e Azam Imran Khan heard from Parliament to D Chowk now. #ہو_گئی_انصاف_کی_جیتpic.twitter.com/YsQeeEeTN1
The session began at 12:15 pm with a single-point agenda to reaffirm confidence in Imran, according to a National Assembly Secretariat statement.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tabled the resolution in the House. The resolution reads: “That this House reposes confidence in the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mr Imran Khan, as required under clause (7) of Article 91 of the Constitution Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 5, 2021
MPs arrived at the Parliament House while scores of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activists and supporters and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders gathered outside.
Before the session began, Punjab and Balochistan chief ministers Usman Buzdar and Jam Kamal Khan, Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani and other officials met in Speaker Asad Qaiser’s chamber, where they discussed the vote of confidence.
The prime minister had decided to take the vote on Wednesday (March 3) following the Senate elections wherein his party faced the unexpected defeat of Sheikh.
Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) protesters and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters engaged in a short brawl and shouted slogans against each other outside the Parliament in the red zone, the day Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan sought a vote of confidence in the National Assembly.
As per details, the law and order situation erupted as the parliament geared for PM Khan’s vote of confidence amid joint opposition’s boycott of the session.
PML-N’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal and Musadiq Malik were among the PML-N leaders present at the scene.
The incident reportedly occurred when PML-N leaders tried to address the media and PTI workers surrounded the PML-N leaders and a scuffle broke out. A large crowd has now gathered at D-Chowk and some political workers have entered the Parliament Lodges.
While many reports have suggested that PTI supporters instigated the violence, Focal Person to PM Imran on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid and Focal Person to Chief Minister Punjab on Digital Punjab Azhar Mashwani have alleged that Abbasi and Malik attacked PTI supporters when they chanted slogans against PML-N.
Later, a large contingent of law enforcers arrived at the scene and managed to separate the political workers of the two parties.
The 30th NA session – on a single point agenda – will make it clear whether PM Imran commands the trust of the house and whether the lawmakers who allegedly ditched the ruling candidate on the general seat in the recently-held Senate election stick to their stand.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its judgement in the case seeking Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda’s disqualification. Prior to this development, Vawda cast his vote for the Upper House and resigned from his National Assembly seat, The Express Tribune has reported.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq was hearing the petition moved against the federal minister by Barrister Jahangir Jadoon. During the hearing, Vawda’s counsel argued that the case against him in the court stands ineffective following his resignation.
However, Jadoon objected to the argument, stating that several members of the assembly resigned from their seats and joined the parliament again in the past. He added that a person remains a member of the assembly unless the Speaker of the National Assembly accepts the resignation.
فیصل واوڈا کا استعفی اسمبلی سیکرٹریٹ نہیں پہنچا عدالت پہنچ گیا۔ کمال ہے۔۔قومی اسمبلی کی لیگل برانچ کو کچھ پتہ نہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/IoTKSUaw9f
— Ghabrana Nahin گھبرانا نہیں (@ghabrananahin) March 3, 2021
Faisal Vawda was a dual national at the time of filing nomination papers for 2018’s General Election and concealed his American citizenship by falsely declaring on the oath he submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
In a move welcomed by child rights organisations, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed The ICT Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill prohibiting corporal punishment in the capital, setting punishments for people physically punishing children.
Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser lauded singer Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment.
جسمانی سزاؤں سے بچوں کی ذہنی اور جسمانی نشونما سمیت تعلیمی سرگرمیاں بھی متاثر ہو رہی تھیں، اسد قیصر اسپیکر کا کہنا تھا کہ معروف گلوکار و سماجی کارکن اور زندگی ٹرسٹ کے سربراہ شہزاد رائے کی بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک کے لیے کوششیں قابل ستائش ہیں@ShehzadRoy#corporalpunishment
The proposed law will cancel out the provisions of Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which allows physical punishment “for the benefit” of the child by guardians and teachers.
Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code:
Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (No XLV) allows parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of children below 12 years of age.
قومی اسمبلی میں بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک بل اکثریت رائے سے منظور کر لیا گیا۔ اسپیکر اسد قیصر نے کہا کہ بچوں پر جسمانی تشدد کے تدارک کے لیے قانون سازی تاریخی اہمیت کی حامل ہے، انہوں نے کہا کہ سکولوں میں بچوں پر جسمانی سزاؤں کے تدارک کے لیے قانون سازی ناگزیر تھی@AsadQaiserPTI
The bill was tabled by PML-N MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. It will become a law after the Senate passes it and the president signs it.
Bill on “prohibition of corporal punishment 2019” laid by me and languishing for long in the National Assembly is on its way to passage from NA – A big Thankyou to @ShehzadRoy@zindagitrust to pursue it with the Speaker NA.
Last year, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and banned the practice of corporal (physical) punishment by parents, guardians and teachers on children. The decision was announced after singer-activist Shehzad Roy filed a petition in court to ban the use of violence to discipline children.
Former prime minister (PM) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf among other opposition members have accused Federal Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari of “making obscene gestures at an opposition MNA” in a claim that has been rubbished by the latter.
“I could not even dare to explain the kind of gestures made by the minister,” media quoted the former premier as saying after yet another session of the National Assembly was marred by ruckus by both government and opposition members during each other’s turn to speak on the floor.
According to the details of Wednesday’s episode in the lower house of the parliament, the government tabled the 26th Constitutional Amendment Bill that seeks open balloting in upcoming Senate polls. Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem presented the bill amid loud slogans and protest by the opposition against the said amendment.
As the session continued, a heated exchange of words took place between three members of the parliament when Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Agha Rafiullah tore his copy of the bill and tossed it in the air in front of Speaker Asad Qaiser.
After the incident, the speaker’s desk was surrounded, books were banged on the desks to disrupt proceedings, whistles were blown and Rafiullah claimed that Mazari allegedly hand-signalled the number five at him; taking it as Moutza.
Moutza is the most traditional gesture of insult among Greeks. It consists of extending and spreading all fingers of the hand and presenting the palm towards the face of the person to be insulted with a forward motion. It is often coupled with swear words.
Rafiullah was furious; he refused to tolerate it; brought the matter to everyone’s attention and the commotion almost turned into a quarrel when a couple of ruling party MNAs, including Malik Anwar Taj, accused him of throwing papers on Speaker Asad Qaiser, The Express Tribune reported.
Rafiullah, however, denied the allegation and once again drew the house’s attention to Moutza.
Ex-PM Ashraf expressed annoyance over the alleged insulting gesture, regretted treasury benches’ behaviour and reminded them that they don’t have the numbers needed for making a constitutional amendment.
When given the floor, Mazari, on the other hand, alleged that Rafiullah swore at a woman MNA from the treasury benches and threw papers on Qaiser’s face.
“I was only seeking your attention,” she told the speaker when asked to explain her gestures.
Ruckus on Friday marred yet another session of the National Assembly as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Ahsan Iqbal got a scolding from speaker of the House, Asad Qaiser.
“Please follow rules. I am doing so too […] mind your tone,” the speaker told the opposition lawmaker.
While the reason behind the war of words has not yet been confirmed by any, a video of the episode showed Iqbal repeatedly interrupting the speaker, demanding what appeared to be more time on the floor of the House.
“Please mind your tone. You have been a minister, and you call yourself ‘professor’… is this the way to talk?” a visibly displeased Qaiser was seen asking Iqbal who kept talking back at the speaker.
WATCH VIDEO:
Earlier, rumpus also erupted after PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar tabled a privilege motion.
During the session, while talking about the operation to demolish his Lahore residence, the Khokhar Palace, the PML-N leader told the House that the administration had stormed his place late at night and destroyed furniture among other things.
“This type of attitude of Punjab authorities will not be tolerated,” he said.
The House has been adjourned to meet again on Monday.
