Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lost his temper when some members of his party spoke up against him during the parliamentary party meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.

Sources told Daily Times that the prime minister chaired the parliamentary party meeting of his party after more than two years; therefore, he was criticised by the members of his own party. MNA from Toba Tek Singh Chaudhry Asad Ur Rehman and MNA from Jhang Najaf Abbas Khan Sial tried to speak when the prime minister was delivering his speech. First, Rehman stood up and said, “Mr prime minister, I want to speak in front of you because you have no time for us.” On this, the prime minister said, “I have seen you. Let me complete the speech and then I will listen to you.” After a short while, Rehman stood up again and started speaking in a loud voice. On this, the prime minister lost his temper and told him angrily to sit down. Rehman refused to obey the prime minister and said, “Mr prime minister, I am not a classroom student and I will not keep quiet. You will have to listen to me.” This exchange of words left the prime minister in an embarrassing situation. However, some members sitting next to Rehman stood up and made him take his seat.

Sources said that later Sial stood up and complained to the prime minister about unavailability of some ministers. He said that ministers would not pick lawmakers’ phone calls. Some lawmakers raised the issue of their salary with the prime minister.

Rehman is the brother of former Supreme Court judge, Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday.

Another source said the prime minister smiled and asked Rehman to take some cold water when he first stood up and disrupted his speech. The source said that Rehman told the prime minister that he did not want to take water from Prime Minister’s Office. On this, the prime minister told him angrily to sit down.

Rehman lost chairmanship of National Assembly’s Privilege Committee some time ago due to his short temper and misconduct with his colleagues. Daily Times has come to know that he is notorious for abusing his fellow lawmakers. According to the sources, Rehman has been angry at the prime minister and his younger brother, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, since the time he lost membership of National Assembly’s Privilege Committee.