In response to the recent arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from within Parliament House, a unanimous resolution was adopted by both the government and opposition on Wednesday. This resolution, proposed by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, mandates the creation of a 16-member parliamentary committee. The committee will consist of members from both treasury and opposition benches and is tasked with addressing issues related to Parliament and ensuring its smooth operation.
The resolution follows heightened political tensions surrounding the arrest of several PTI lawmakers for allegedly violating the newly enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, during a rally in Islamabad on Sunday. The arrests, which involved police and individuals in masks entering the Parliament House, led to significant controversy.
Earlier in the day, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had suspended the House’s Sergeant at Arms and four other security officials due to a security lapse that resulted in the arrests. This decision was part of a broader effort to address the security issues and restore the sanctity of the Parliament.
During the National Assembly session, Speaker Sadiq reflected on past actions of the PTI government under Imran Khan, criticizing the denial of production orders during Khan’s tenure. Despite this, Sadiq emphasized that two wrongs do not make a right. He underscored his commitment to upholding Parliament’s respect and vowed to investigate the recent security breach thoroughly. He announced that the new committee would start its work immediately and invited PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan to meet with him after the session.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif condemned the presence of masked individuals and the police in the Parliament House, describing it as a shameful violation of the House’s sanctity. He expressed support for issuing production orders for the arrested PTI lawmakers and criticized the PTI’s actions during their Sunday rally. Asif stated that the intrusion by the police constituted a significant loss to Parliament as an institution.
Senior PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan addressed the National Assembly, mentioning a meeting with leaders from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and other parties regarding the production orders. Khan revealed that the speaker had verbally instructed the inspector general of police to produce the arrested lawmakers, but this order had not been implemented by the Islamabad police. He noted that masked individuals had entered Parliament House, an issue also raised by PPP and other parties. According to Khan, the Islamabad IG had denied that the masked individuals were affiliated with the police.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reiterated that production orders do not require a written application, asserting that these orders are a right following the speaker’s ruling. He emphasized the PTI’s desire for a strong Parliament and political forces, and expressed that the recent rally was used as a pretext to target party members. Gohar affirmed the PTI’s commitment to negotiations and finding solutions for the country and democracy.
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai voiced strong support for Speaker Sadiq’s efforts to uphold Parliament’s supremacy and maintain the constitutional boundaries of institutions. Achakzai condemned the attack on the Parliament House as unjustified and highly condemnable, arguing that it was unacceptable to use the words of Ali Amin Gandapur as an excuse for such actions.
The resolution to form a committee and the ensuing debates highlight the ongoing political and institutional tensions in Pakistan. As Parliament seeks to address these issues and restore order, the resolution and discussions reflect broader concerns about the respect and functionality of parliamentary institutions in the face of political conflict.
