Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Makhdoom Javed Hashmi stunned the Lower House by making an emotional speech while rejecting information provided to the National Assembly (NA) last month that the federal government had spent around £30,000 on his treatment in the UK in 2010 for speech restoration therapy.
“The wrong information not only breached my privilege but authorities who provided the disinformation breached the privilege of the whole house. I neither took even a single penny from the government nor expressed my intention to get a favour from the government,” Hashmi said, speaking on a point of order.
PML-N MNA Raja Asad moved a privilege motion on Hashmi’s behalf, which was adopted by the House and sent to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and Privileges by Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza. Hashmi said that his 40-year political career had no spots and stigmas. “Prime Minister Gilani came to my house to inquire about my health and asked about any financial help but I declined his offer saying the money should be spent on flood affectees,” he said, adding that he (Hashmi) was against using public money. “I will not spare the man who embezzled public money on my name. I need a thorough inquiry into the matter to bring the culprits to the book,” he demanded.