Islamabad (December 13, 2018): Members of the Opposition have walked out of the National Assembly Session held today over non-issuance of the Production orders for Khawaja Saad Rafique by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser.
Opposition members demanded speaker of National Assembly, Asad Qaiser to issue the production orders of PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique who is currently under arrest.
Upon denial of the appeal, the members of the opposition protested and walked out from the ongoing session in the National Assembly.
Opposition leader in NA Shehbaz Sharif demanded the Speaker that production orders for PML-N Member Khawaja Saad Rafique be issued. The Speaker said this matter is being considered and production orders can be issued only after exploring all the legal aspects of the issue.
Earlier, referring to the issue of PML-N Member Khawaja Saad Rafique, the Foreign Minister said that requesting production orders for an MNA is due right of opposition and we respect that.
He said that the production orders of Leader of the Opposition were also issued earlier. He said this House belongs to all political parties and everyone should play a part in keeping its sanctity.
The Minister said that members of government and opposition are elected by votes of people and it is their obligation to take part in legislation to meet the expectations of those who have brought them to this august House.
He said that working in the parliament requires political maturity on both sides of the aisles.
Foreign Minister warned that if democracy is not allowed to run, then responsibility of its failure will fall on all of us. He offered the opposition to come forward and work collectively in the larger interest of the nation and democratic norms by not succumbing to personal and party interests.
It is pertinent to mention that officials from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday (December 11) arrested Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Salman Rafique after Lahore High Court rejected their bail plea.
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NAB arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Salman Rafique in connection to the Paragon Housing Society scam.
“The court’s decision confirmed substantive evidence against NAB suspects,” the accountability watchdog spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed matters pertaining to legislation and constituting standing committees in the Lower House.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak were also present in the meeting.
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