Islamabad (June 9, 2017): Parliament witnessed a chaotic session on Friday after opposition parties raised questions about the scuffle between the Awami Muslim League’s Shaikh Rashid and PML-N leader Noor Awan yesterday.
According to the details, the issue of Malik Noor Awan, accosting Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed outside the parliament became a heated topic between opposition and government members during the National Assembly session on Friday.
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Opposition leader Khursheed Shah raised the issue in the parliament and asked, “who brought the unrelated person to the parliament?”
“The person [Noor Awan] entered without a pass and was issued a pass later. His pass was signed by the deputy speaker. How was he allowed to enter the vicinity?” he asked.
Shah said the “protectors of the House” should not turn into “butchers”.
“Did you [just] call the chair a butcher?” demanded National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
“I said this word is common these days,” Shah responded.
Sadiq in response demanded a detailed report of the incident and a clarification from the Deputy Speaker.
Investigation will be ordered as soon as more details regarding the man who accosted Sheikh Rasheed is received, said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
FIR was registered on the day of the incident, till night he was in custody, he added.
However, that was not enough to stop Shah from criticising government policies.
“Democratic governments come into power through the public vote. The Constitution provides guidelines on running the state. They [those who run the state] are answerable to Parliament,” he pointed out.
He also blamed the current ‘state of affairs’ of the country on decisions taken by military dictators in the past. “We thought we had strengthened democracy by the democratic transfer of power,” he said.
Khursheed Shah also brought with him Noor Awan’s pictures with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, which he promptly displayed to the lawmakers, prompting the opposition to start sloganeering against the government.
“He also has a picture with Nehal Hashmi, [the same man] who said [those investigating the prime minister and his family] will be taken to cast,” Shah said.
“Some people also have pictures with Ziaul Haq,” commented Khursheed Shah.
The statement triggered an outburst from MNA Abid Sher Ali, who continued criticising the opposition even though he was told by the Speaker to remain silent. The members of both the benches started chanting ‘shame shame’ slogans.
After this, State minister for water and power Abid Sher Ali got passionate and started speaking without a mic.
Other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders Sheikh Aftab and Rana Tanveer tried their best to stop Abid Sher Ali. But, he did not listen to them and continued speaking.
“Do not get personal,” Khursheed Shah said while responding to Abid Sher Ali. “Please don’t tell me what to say. This is parliament; it is not someone’s personal shop.”
“You want to suppress the voice of everyone here,” he added.
“When you [Abid Sher Ali] were mistreated in Pervez Musharraf’s era, we stood by you,” retaliated Shah. “We stood by you when your father was mistreated as well.”
“They [PPP] kept us in Sahiwal jail over a Kalashnikov [arms possession] case,” Ali retorted. “What democracy are they [PPP] talking about?”
“I know why your father went to jail,” Aijaz Jakhrani of PPP hit back.
Shah accused the government of insulting the members of Parliament by using the organs of the State.
NA Speaker Sadiq, attempting to tamp the rapidly deteriorating situation, had to postpone the session and summon Shah and other ministers to his chambers.
The ruckus led to a 15-minute break during the assembly session. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also summoned Khursheed Shah to the chamber.
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