Will suspended MPAs face speaker?
Speaker Khan on June 27 suspended these MPAs for creating "disruption, ruckus and chanting indecent slogans" during the speech of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in the house 3 under rule 210 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997.
The speaker had allowed the lawmakers to appear in his chamber and give an explanation by July 11 (today). Talking to The Express Tribune, Leader of Opposition Malik Ahamd Khan Bhachar, who belongs to the PTI, confirmed that they were consulting with their legal team about the speaker's opportunity.
"We will take a decision with regard to the speaker's hearing in a parliamentary meeting to be held on July 11 (today)," he added.
A reliable source seeking anonymity told The Express Tribune that a majority of the PTI's MPAs are willing to avail this opportunity, place their case before the speaker and ask him whether they could be suspended in response to their protest during the CM's speech.
Speaker Khan has also received references for disqualification of the MPAs under Article 63(2) read with Article 113 of the Constitution and it is mandatory for him to decide these references within 30 days.
The speaker on June 28 also sought recovery of damages of Rs2,035,000 from 10 PTI's MPAs — Rs203,550 each — over mounting on their desks and breaking 8 microphones during their protest on June 16 when the provincial government presented the budget.
Speaker Khan had also ordered that opposition MPA Hassan Malik (PP-81) would remain absent from the assembly till the prorogation of the current session. He had issued this order after Hassan Malik threw a budget speech book at Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.
On June 24, Khan also ruled that "ALL members, regardless of their political affiliation, in order to preserve decorum, [will] uphold the dignity of this august Assembly, and ensure that parliamentary proceedings can continue without disruption".
He had warned that in future he would "take all the steps within the legal framework to maintain order and uphold dignity of this august house and its members". He had given this ruling in response to Bhachar's point of order that protest is a constitutional right.
In order to determine whether the right to protest and freedom of expression is it an absolute right of the members, the speaker mentioned Rule 223 of the procedure.
The opposition leader strongly condemned these orders. He made it clear that the opposition will continue its protest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
27 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
PBC rejects amendments in anti-terrorism act
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) rejected amendments in Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, wherein, the law enforcement agencies and the armed forces are allowed to detain suspects for up to three months. A joint meeting of Rules Committee of the Council was held on Wednesday in the chair of PBC Vice-Chairman Chaudhary Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, and Vice-Chairmen of the Provincial/ Islamabad Bar Councils, in the Supreme Court Building, Islamabad. The meeting, unanimously, passed resolutions; It said every individual has right and opportunity of due process of law and fair trial as enshrined in Articles 4 and 10A of the Constitution. They termed it as draconian law and demanded its withdrawal forthwith as the legal fraternity ever struggled for the Rule of Law, supremacy of Constitution in the Country and to guard fundamental rights provided in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.' Senate passes Anti-Terrorism Bill amid opposition walkout The council said; 'The Registration of frivolous FIR's against Advocates in Punjab, under Anti-Terrorism Act or under any other charge was strongly condemned and demanded from I.G. Punjab Police to withdraw all illegal, unlawful, false and frivolous FIR's registered against Advocates forthwith, otherwise, the legal fraternity will oppose it at every level.' 'They have expressed their grief and sorrow on the loss of precious lives and in terms of public livestock, dwellings, property and infrastructure in the aftermath of the devastating torrential rains, cloud burst, causing flash floods hitting/ affecting almost every nook and corner of the country especially Dir, Buner and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi. The lawyers especially belonging to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have also been directly affected badly. They demanded from the Federal & Provincial Governments to provide relief to the people of affected areas, without any delay.' 'They have also strongly condemned the unlawful, illegal and unwarranted raid conducted by personnel of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) accompanied by men in civilian dresses at the residence of Justice Zahoor Ahmed Shahwani (retd), advocate Supreme Court from Quetta. During the course of this unlawful raid, the security officials trespassed inside his residence without any search warrant and violated the sanctity & privacy of 'veil and the four walls'. The meeting stated that the legal fraternity cannot turn a blind eye on such like illegal acts of the police and law enforcement agencies against family members of the judges and senior advocates. The resolution said; 'The amendments in Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973, proposed by the Members of National Assembly belonging to PTI is hereby condemned unanimously and demanded to Government not to pass this Bill, since it is against the mandate of the Bar Councils Act.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
27 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Multi-Vender Electricity Distribution Bill: NA panel urged to expedite consideration process
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Secretariat has urged the National Assembly Standing Committee on Power to expedite consideration of Multi-Vender Electricity Distribution Bill 2025 moved by MNA Shahida Rehmani to be extended across the country. The purpose of the Bill is to promote fair competition and end electricity distribution monopoly in urban areas. According to the Bill, it is expedient to provide for the establishment of a competitive electricity distribution framework to safeguard the rights of consumers, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and eliminate monopolistic practices in the power sector, especially in urban metropolitan regions such as Karachi. The proposed Bill says Constitution Article 38 (c) mandates the equitable distribution of resources and the provision of affordable utilities to all citizens. The Act states that unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context: (i) Authority 'means the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), established under the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 (Act XL of 1997);(ii) 'distribution Licensee' means any person or company licensed by Nepra to distribute electricity; (iii) 'Multi-vendor model' means a framework allowing more than one distribution licensee to operate in the same geographical area. The Bill further states that no single electricity distribution licensee shall enjoy exclusive rights to distribute electricity in any urban or metropolitan area with a population exceeding one million. The Authority shall, within ninety days of the commencement of this Act, establish a mechanism to issue additional distribution licences in regions currently served by a single entity, enabling consumers to choose among multiple service providers. Nepra shall ensure: (i) transparent licensing procedures; (ii) fair and non-discriminatory access to transmission infrastructure; (iii) protection of consumer rights against over-billing and service abuse; and (iv) periodic audits and performance benchmarking of all licensees. Existing licensees shall be required to un-bundle their operations and open their distribution networks to other licensees within twelve months of the commencement of this Act, as prescribed by the rules. Any licensee that obstructs or delays access to distribution infrastructure for other licensees shall be liable to fines up to one million rupees and possible suspension of licence. The federal government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. The federal government may, within one year of the commencement of this Act, take necessary measures to remove difficulties in the implementation of this Act. According to the statement of objects and reasons, the electricity distribution sector in Pakistan's urban areas is currently monopolised by single entities, most notably in Karachi where K-Electric holds exclusive distribution rights. This monopoly has led to persistent issues such as inefficiency, over-billing, consumer grievances, and lack of accountability. After the 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), energy became a concurrent subject, empowering provinces to formulate policies, regulate, and implement frameworks for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. However, the Nepra continues to exercise central regulatory control over distribution licensing, thereby limiting the operational autonomy of provinces. The Bill seeks to reform this imbalance by: (i) ending distribution monopolies and introducing a competitive framework; (ii) enabling consumer choice in electricity service providers; (iii) empowering provinces to establish regulatory bodies and oversee localized transparent distribution and; (iv) to attract private investment and fostering accountability-driven, technology-oriented services. The proposed law is in line with the spirit of the 18th Amendment, aiming to decentralize control and ensure efficient, equitable electricity distribution benefiting both the provinces and the citizens. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
PBC rejects amendments to ATA
The Pakistan Bar Council on Wednesday rejected amendments made in Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, wherein the law enforcement agencies and the armed forces are allowed to detain suspects for up to three months. In a resolution passed by the body which met under the chairmanship of Chaudhry Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, Vice, the participants of the meeting expressed their serious concerns on the amendment and said that every individual has right and opportunity of due process of law and fair trial as enshrined in Articles 4 and 10A of the Constitution.
