Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Ruckus broke out in National Assembly on Friday after opposition parties blasted government for issuing entry pass to a man who brawled with Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed outside the parliament a day earlier.

Abid Sher Ali and Mian Manan of the PML-N became furious after opposition leader Khurshid Shah showed pictures of Malik Noor Awan, the person who scuffled with Sh Rashid, with several ruling party members and started yelling slogans. They also indulged into a scuffle with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) legislator Aijaz Jakhrani.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq tried to control the situation but his efforts ended in futile.

Khursheed Shah accused Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi of providing entry pass to Malik Noor Awan when he was denied entry by the security guards for not possessing an entry pass. Shah also questioned the motive behind granting permission to Awan to enter the premises. “The parliament should be informed who brought Awan into the assembly building,” he asked. Following his remarks, the ruling and opposition legislators exchanged hot words on the matter. The chair suspended the session for 15 minutes to establish calm in the House. Talking to media outside the parliament, Sh Rasheed said that the incumbent government of PML-N was trying to disrupt the undeterred corruption investigation by applying new tactics.

On the other hand, the arrested man has been released on bail but will appear in the court on June 23.

It is pertinent to mention here that a man, identified as president of PML-N Japan faction Malik Noor Awan, stopped Sh Rasheed outside the parliament, alleging him of borrowing Rs 2.2 million about 15 years ago as a loan to purchase a vehicle. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar directed security staff to take Malik Noor Awan into custody. Speaker Ayaz Sadiq sought a detailed report of the incident and a clarification from the deputy speaker as well. However, that was not enough to stop Shah from criticising government policies.

“Democratic governments come into power through public vote. Constitution provides guidelines on running the state. Those who run the state were answerable to Parliament,” he pointed out. Khursheed Shah also brought with him Noor Awan’s pictures with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, which he promptly displayed to the lawmakers, prompting the opposition to start sloganeering against the government. “He also has a picture with Nehal Hashmi who said those investigating the prime minister and his family will be taken to cast,” Shah said. “Some people also have pictures with Ziaul Haq,” commented Khursheed Shah. The opposition leader said this was responsibility of the custodian, the speaker, of the House to safeguard the rights of the elected representatives. Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said that the person involved in the incident has been arrested and FIR registered against him in Secretariat Police Station.