Speaker Proposes Charter of Parliament to Enhance Legislative Body’s Role

Islamabad_(Mudassar Iqbal)-National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has proposed the idea of framing a Charter of Parliament to address the issues faced by lawmakers. This comes after the recent arrest of PTI MNAs from the Parliament House premises, which sparked a heated debate between the government and opposition.

During the NA proceedings, Speaker Sadiq emphasized the need for both the government and opposition to work together. He established an inquiry committee to investigate the PTI MNAs’ arrests, urging lawmakers from both sides to contribute to the inquiry rules.

Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar tabled a motion to set up a special committee to address Parliament’s issues, which was unanimously adopted by the House. The committee will comprise 16 members from both treasury and opposition benches to discuss, analyze, and propose recommendations for parliament’s smooth functioning.

Speaker Sadiq also suspended five NA security officials for four months due to negligence during the arrest of PTI MNAs. He stated that not issuing production orders was not the right thing to do, citing the PTI government’s denial of production orders for opposition members during its tenure.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif termed the arrival of masked men and police in parliament “shameful” and a violation of the house’s sanctity. PTI leaders stressed negotiation and finding a way out for the country’s sake.

Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai supported Speaker Sadiq’s stance on upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and keeping institutions within their constitutional ambits. He condemned the attack on the Parliament House, stating it was unjustified and highly condemnable.

The development comes amid heightened political tensions following the arrest of PTI lawmakers for allegedly violating the newly enacted Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024, during the party’s public rally held in Islamabad on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, the Speaker took disciplinary action, suspending the House’s Sergeant at Arms and four other security officials. This decision followed the alleged arrest of lawmakers by Islamabad police and masked individuals within the National Assembly premises, highlighting a serious security lapse.