Ruckus in NA as new members on reserved seats take oath

An uproar erupted in the National Assembly as new lawmakers on reserved seats in the National Assembly took oath, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Friday.

As National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq administered the oath, the PTI-backed shouted slogan.  The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected the allocation of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council and distributed those seats to the PML-N and PPP.

The Sunni Ittehad Council moved the PHC which deferred the oath-taking of lawmakers on reserved seats. 

Despite the objections and protests by the SIC, the new members proceeded to take their oaths. Opposition members stood on their seats during the ceremony.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan highlighted that MNAs on reserved seats could not be administered the oath in light of the order of the Peshawar High Court.

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq that the house did not receive any notice or order from the ECP regarding the oath-taking of MNAs on reserved seats.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan argued PTI's members in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies joined the SIC, expecting reserved seats based on their quota. He said the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision on March 1 was later stayed by the Peshawar High Court, making today’s oath-taking unlawful.

Speaking on the floor of the house, PTI-backed MNA Omer Ayub Khan said that the lawmakers who took oath on reserved seats committed “contempt of court” and their swearing-in should be declared “void”.

he stated that PTI leaders were not being allowed to meet incarcerated party chief Imran Khan by the Adiala Jail superintendent.

 “We should be told if the jail superintendent is answerable to the court or o the government,” Ayub demanded.

 “Today, on behalf of all my opposition members, I demand that the oath taken today should be declared null and void as it has no legal standing,” he said, adding that the opposition would continue to protest until SIC members on reserved seats took the oath.