Daily Times

During a hard protest by the entire opposition in the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri asked Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Agha Rafilullah to leave the session for disturbing the decorum of the House.

The opposition members surrounded the dais of the deputy speaker and chanted slogans against the government. Responding to the protest, Qasim Suri directed the management to send those creating ruckus during the session out of the assembly.

Agha Rafiullah Awan initiated cross-talk when the treasury benches began discussing the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM)’ rallies. Rafiullah proceeded to clash directly with the deputy speaker when he was told to stop interrupting the proceedings. Rafilluah sought a reply from government over a written question in which he asked about the tax return filed by advisors/special assistant to PM.

After being warned that he was “getting personal”, Rafiullah was ordered to leave the assembly hall. “He impedes the NA proceedings and will not be allowed in,” Suri said. Former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf promptly apologised on Rafiullah’s behalf and asked for the ruling to be withdrawn, but the deputy speaker refused to accept the apology and insisted on Rafiullah leaving the hall for at least one minute.

PTI MNA Ali Muhammad interjected at this point to read out from the rules of the house and pointed out that Rafiullah should be apologising himself. “He should respect the chair and follow the deputy speaker’s command,” he said, recommending that Rafiullah leave the hall for a minute and return so that the chair’s ruling is implemented.

After being warned that disobeying the chair could lead to his suspension from the house, Rafiullah left the hall along with other opposition leaders and returned after a few minutes.

Meanwhile, speaking in the House, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Khawaja Asif said that the incumbent government of PTI has made the life of a common man miserable and asked which lobby was being protected on wheat issue. He demanded to increase wheat support price from Rs 1,600 per 40kg to Rs 2,000 per 40kg. He walked out of the session after completing his address.

Responding to points raised by PML-N leader Khawaja Asif, Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan clarified that no decision has yet been made about the wheat support price.

He said subsidy will be provided to the farmers on agriculture inputs including seeds and fertilisers once the parliamentary committee on agriculture furnishes its recommendations.

On his turn, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed moved a resolution strongly condemning the statement made at the gathering of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Quetta against Article 251 of the constitution.

He said, “We denounce the anti-Pakistan statements being made from the platform of PDM … conspiracies are being hatched against the country.” He categorically stated that no National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) will be given to the corrupt elements.

Condemning political sloganeering at Quaid’s Mausoleum and criticism of Urdu as national language, Murad said: “You are speaking to the tunes of Indian premier Modi and Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.” “You must have heard Doval’s statement on how they intended to destabilize Pakistan. “This is an international conspiracy. I hope people don’t become a pawn in their ignorance.”

NA also unanimously passed a resolution strongly condemning the recent terror attacks in Peshawar and Quetta. The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan. Later, the House was adjourned for October 29 at 11am over incomplete quorum pointed out by a PML-N member.