NA speaker orders release of all PTI MNAs arrested from Parliament

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has ordered immediate release of all lawmakers arrested from Parliament premises on Monday night, saying all MNAs are his colleagues and “insulting any of them is intolerable”, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The speaker issued the orders during a meeting with Islamabad IGP Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi at his chamber in the National Assembly on Tuesday, said a National Assembly spokesman.

The IGP assured the NA speaker of action. “Sir, I will look into it personally and will report back to you,” he added.

Ayad Sadiq told the top cop that no member of the parliament can be arrested from the Parliament House or its lodges. “There will be no compromise on the honour and dignity of the Parliament House,” the speaker declared.

Ayaz Sadiq said he is issuing production orders for all detained MNAs. “The lawmakers who can be freed should immediately be released,” he added.

Earlier, the speaker chaired a meeting at his chamber which was also attended by Ali Muhammad Khan, Rana Sanaullah, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Khursheed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Shandana Gulzar.

Ayad Sadiq sought all the CCTV footages from the parliament while Ali Muhammad Khan also provided him footages he has.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq took notice of the Monday night’s incident at the Parliament House during which the police had arrested PTI lawmakers.

Speaking during the National Assembly proceedings on Tuesday, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said “They have to take action on whatever had happened last night in the Parliament. I have summoned CCTV footage from all the gates of the parliament.”

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq sought video footage of all the gates and entry/exit points of the Parliament to fix the responsibility for arresting lawmakers from Parliament’s premises. 

Responding to points of order raised by a number of lawmakers, Ayaz Sadiq said he considers himself unlucky as custodian of the House when the Parliament was attacked by a political party and its cousin in the past.

The NA speaker assured the House that strict action will be taken, in consultation with all the political parties, to prevent such incidents in future.

Ali Khan says this is an attack on democracy 

There were heated arguments and barbs exchanged between the treasury and opposition legislators on the floor of the National Assembly following the arrest of PTI MNAs from Islamabad, including the parliament premises Monday night.

Speaking on the floor of the lower house, PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan, who appeared emotionally charged, blasted the arrests of his fellow party leaders, saying “Today, I am making a case on democracy. Last night, what happened to democracy and to this parliament? We are not in Israel, we are in Pakistan.”

Addressing NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Ali Khan said: “Your colleagues Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Shafqat Awan, Amir Dogar, Sheikh Waqar Akram and Maulana Naseem were seeking shelter in this parliament last night but were taken away. Maulana Naseem was picked up from a mosque. While what had happened on May 9 was wrong, what had happened last night was May 9 for Pakistan’s democracy.” 

Ali Muhammad Khan said “This date (September 9) will be remembered in Pakistan’s history. It is filled with Liaquat Ali Khan, Bhutto’s execution, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s blood and gunshots at Imran Khan’s body.

“Last night, not from India, Israel or America but personnel from the institutions of my own country made arrests. Who were those veiled people who entered here and took our people away? This is an attack on democracy and on Pakistan’s constitution. I am making a demand on behalf of the Constitution as I am in the parliament.”

The PTI leader further said “This attack is not on Imran Khan, Amir Dogar, Waqar or anyone. It is an attack on you, on Shehbaz Sharif, on Bilawal Bhutto and on politics.”

Khawaja Asif assails PTI

In response to Ali Khan’s speech, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the PTI, questioning “If you say ‘No (Imran) Khan, no Pakistan’, what would be the reaction?”

Kh Asif further condemned “equating Pakistan’s existence to one man”, as well as the call to “bring an army of Pashtuns and attack Punjab”. He maintained the kind of language used last night was protested by colleagues sitting in the National Assembly.

He said the language used against women, journalists as well as the unity and integrity of the country is a big challenge for the Federation of Pakistan. Asif said they will have to correct their approach so that there should be no harsh reaction.

Responding to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s threat to march on Lahore along with PTI workers, Khawaja Asif dared him to come to Attock Bridge, adding he would wait for him there.

He called PTI leaders ‘hypocrites’, who recite Durood Sharif at the start and at the end of their speeches. “Their speeches are an assault on the country, democracy and the country’s constitution,” the minister said, adding Pashtuns were Pakistanis and nobody could claim to be their sole representative.

Describing late Monday night arrests of the PTI MNAs as a protest lodged by the state, Asif said what else the state could do in the current circumstances.

Asif said that such arrests were not only made in Pakistan. “In fact these are a norm in the entire world,” he added.

Speaking to reporters on the floor of the National Assembly (NA), he said he and other PML-N leaders too had spent months in jails. “A political worker is the one who gleefully surrenders to the police,” he opined.  

He said he was not aware that arrests had been made from inside the Parliament House. “I think the MNAs were picked up when they were outside the building.”

Rana Tanveer says ‘touch me not’ policy of no use

Taking the floor, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain said the policy of “touch me not” will not work if you hurl abuses against women and attack state institutions.           

Responding to a calling attention notice, Rana Tanveer clarified that no proposal is under consideration for the closure or winding up of the Utility Stores Corporation. He said “We are only talking about restructuring the organization.” He said the rights of employees will be protected.

PPP MNA Aseefa Bhutto earlier moved a call attention notice regarding utility sotres and PWD.

PPP’s Naveed Qamar says police crossed ‘red line’

Describing the arrests of PTI MNAs from inside the Parliament House assault on the institution of parliament, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and MNA Syed Naveed Qamar said on Tuesday a ‘Red Line’ was crossed on Monday night, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

He was speaking at the National Assembly (NA) session.

MQM-P’s Mustafa Kamal calls parties to show restraint

In his speech, MQM-P MNA Syed Mustafa Kamal condemned the incident, and said violence begets violence.

He asked the PTI leaders to urge their party founder Imran Khan to show restraint so that the situation could be prevented from deteriorating further.

“This is not only the PTI I am addressing. This is my appeal to all stakeholders to take a breather,” he said, adding, “After all, those who call the shots in the country will have to understand the things.”

However, he asked what was democratic in KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s speech which he delivered at the PTI’s public gathering in Islamabad on Sunday.

Mustafa said now the MQM-P workers wondered whether their party founder’s speeches were more threatening.  

Reporters Rozina Ali and Usman Khan