Two Pakistani Lawmakers Suspended for Abusive Language During President Zardari’s Address

Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq (Image Credit: X/@NAofPakistan)

Asif Iqbal | April 20, 2024 | 08:23 AM IST | Asia, Pakistan News, Politics, World | Follow on Google News

Two Pakistani Lawmakers Suspended for Abusive Language During President Zardari’s Address

Two Pakistani Lawmakers Suspended for Abusive Language During President Zardari’s Address

Pakistan’s National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Ayaz Sadiq, suspended the membership of two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) lawmakers, Jamshed Ahmad Khan Dasti and Muhammad Iqbal Khan. This action was taken due to their use of abusive language during Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s address in a joint session of parliament. The suspension was announced on Friday after the lower house adopted a motion introduced by Sadiq.

The motion detailed that both lawmakers used “abusive language” and approached the speaker’s dais in a “threatening manner,” which was deemed “unacceptable.” Their disruptive actions included blowing whistles, displaying banners and placards, and chanting objectionable slogans. These actions violated the sanctity of the house and the Rules of Procedure of Conduct of Business International 2007. Sadiq invoked Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly along with Rule 33 of the Parliament Joint Sitting Rules 1973 to suspend their membership for the current session.

Opposition’s Response and Continued Protests

In response to their suspension, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, one of the suspended MNAs, defended the opposition’s protest during the joint parliament session. He warned of further protests, asserting that they would “teach them [rulers] more lessons about what the rule of the Constitution is.” Khan claimed that PTI leaders and workers were arrested and would continue to fight for the supremacy of the Constitution and law in Pakistan.

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PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan referred to the opposition’s protest and disruption in the joint session as a “21-cannon salute” to President Zardari. He declared that they do not recognize Zardari as the president or Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the entire cabinet as legal.

In contrast, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari criticized the opposition’s behavior and use of abusive language as “unparliamentary.” He stated in a press conference that they are not afraid of the “jungle’s monkeys” and emphasized the PPP’s history of fighting dictators. Bilawal welcomed the opposition’s criticism but described their recent actions as making “their own history.”

Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal is a seasoned news writer with a passion for delivering the latest updates to the public. Currently serving as the senior writer at VoM News, a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, Asif has established himself as a reliable source of information. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he consistently provides readers with well-crafted articles that cover a wide range of news categories. His dedication to journalistic integrity and his commitment to staying ahead of the news curve make him an invaluable asset to Vom News, ensuring that readers are always well-informed on the issues that matter most. You can find his work and stay updated on current events by visiting vomnews.in.