Punjab speaker halts action against suspended PTI MPAs
The Punjab government has decided to halt further punitive action against suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Members of Provincial Aseembly (MPAs) amid ongoing negotiations.
The opposition lawmakers were suspended by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan following chaotic scenes in the House on June 27, when members from both sides of the aisle engaged in a physical altercation during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's address.
In an effort to resolve the standoff, the speaker had constituted an eight-member negotiation committee comprising members from both the treasury and opposition.
The committee held two rounds of talks, the latest on Sunday evening. While no formal breakthrough was achieved in those meetings, government sources indicated on Tuesday that some progress had been made, prompting a decision to de-escalate.
Read More: No headway in talks over suspended PTI MPAs; dialogue to continue
According to Express News, the speaker has directed the Assembly secretariat and government members to suspend any further action against the opposition until the talks yield conclusive results.
The Assembly secretariat had initially planned additional measures against 19 suspended opposition MPAs, including fines imposed on 10 of them for alleged vandalism in the House. These fines, along with second notices and deductions from salaries, have now been paused.
Sources said that the suspended lawmakers had been collectively fined over Rs20 million and were previously given a one-week deadline to pay or face stricter action. However, these enforcement measures have now been withheld pending the outcome of the ongoing dialogue.
In addition, the government has also suspended plans to table no-confidence motions against nine more opposition chairpersons of standing committees. Previously, four such chairpersons had already been removed through similar motions.
According to government sources, a total of 13 opposition lawmakers were slated to be removed from their committee positions as part of the disciplinary response to the June 27 events. That plan, too, has been put on hold in light of the negotiations.
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