PA speaker seeks orderly conduct pledge from MPAs

Express Tribune

14-07-2025

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan wants the opposition in to give a written assurance of strict compliance with various conditions, including firmly following the rules of procedure.
Speaking to reporters, the speaker, who is apparently under pressure to send disqualification references against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) 26 suspended MPAs, cited constitutional grounds for the move.
He said he had earlier let the house made hostage and favoured the opposition but this would not happen now. He accused the opposition of misusing his lenience.
"The opposition will have to strictly implement the Rule 223 of the Rules of Procedure and there will be no compromise in future over abusive, humiliating and violent conduct," he made clear.
The speaker said little noise had been raised during speeches of the leaders of the house in past but no one had used the derogatory, inhumane, immoral and disrespectful language uttered by the PTI lawmakers during the recent speech of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
"If there is a right of protest then there is also a right to speak wherein everyone should be respectfully heard," he said.
"Enough is enough, no hooliganism will be tolerated now, come what may," Speaker Khan warned.
He said the opposition had backpedaled over its commitments previously and that was why he required the commitment to comply with the conditions in black and white.
The speaker said he wanted to run the house smoothly, where every member, including women, could express their views without disruption. "There are some democratic norms that should be followed by the opposition by giving respect to others if they want respect for themselves," he added.
He said Article 63(2) of the Constitution states that it is the speaker who decides whether a question arises regarding the disqualification of a member. If the speaker does not make a decision within 30 days, the matter is automatically referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
He stated that he had received three applications from Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Ahmad Iqbal and Iftikhar Chachar, which were not references but constitutional applications that must be decided strictly in accordance with the Constitution.
Malik Muhammad Ahmad recalled that in 2017, 22 MNAs of PTI had approached Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, demanding action under Article 63(2) on the basis of a statement by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. When the matter was not resolved within 30 days, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice, which was constitutionally controversial, he added.
He said he had encouraged both the government and opposition to resolve matters through dialogue. Discussions were held on five key points, with both sides agreeing that foul language, sloganeering and violations of human rights would be unacceptable in the house, and that the Constitution must be fully respected, he added.
The speaker said there had never been chaos in the house during a chief minister's speech. While the opposition has the constitutional right to protest, it is equally important to uphold parliamentary norms and the sanctity of the house.
He reiterated that he does not believe in character assassination or humiliation of any member, nor will he prevent anyone from speaking. However, mob behaviour, aggressive conduct, and acts such as throwing books are unacceptable.
He said the speaker of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly had sent him a letter regarding the suspension of opposition members, to which a detailed response along with constitutional interpretations would be sent.
The Punjab Assembly speaker said his goal is not to undermine anyone but to protect the sanctity of the house while remaining within the constitutional framework.
He said a decision would be made soon, and whatever would be decided would be documented and agreed upon by both the government and the opposition to ensure a more conducive atmosphere in the house for moving forward.