Punjab Assembly Speaker Rejects Disqualification References Against 26 Opposition Lawmakers

Lahore (Asif Iqbal): Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, has rejected disqualification references filed against 26 opposition lawmakers, terming them inconsistent with constitutional and democratic norms. The speaker issued a six-page detailed ruling, asserting that no member of the assembly can be disqualified without a judicial verdict.

In what is being hailed as a significant development for parliamentary democracy, the speaker declared that disqualifying elected representatives without due legal process is tantamount to suppressing the public mandate
a move he described as contrary to democratic values.

“We must not allow disqualification references to become tools of political victimization. The Assembly should be a forum where dissent is heard, not silenced,” the ruling stated.

Speaker Khan criticized past judicial decisions, notably referencing the Panama Papers case, labeling such rulings as harmful to democratic institutions. He called for a unified “Charter of Assemblies” bringing together all political forces to safeguard the dignity of legislative bodies and to resolve political differences through democratic means.

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Condemning recent protests within the assembly, the speaker clarified that such actions, while disruptive, do not warrant grounds for disqualification. “Obstructions in legislation reflect the failure of political leadership, not of individual lawmakers,” he added.

The speaker’s decision is being viewed by political observers as a robust stance in favor of constitutionalism and parliamentary supremacy. Meanwhile, opposition parties are celebrating the ruling as a validation of their stance and a win for democratic rights.