The elected representatives of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), including Members National Assembly (MNAs) and Members Provincial Assembly (MPAs), would cordon off the office of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in Islamabad if he fails to appear before the Sindh Assembly’s Privilege Committee on May 21.
The announcement was made by PPP’s active MPA Imran Zafar Leghari after a meeting of the Rules of Procedure and Privileges Committee of the Sindh Assembly that was held under the chairmanship of MPA Mujadid Isran on Monday.
Leghari claimed that Khan had used derogatory remarks against the elected Sindh MPAs during his news conference on Sunday.
He said the summon letters were forwarded to Khan through the NA secretary and directly through courier service to clear his stance in regard to what he had said.
However, violating the Rules of Business of the Sindh Assembly, the PML-N leader did not turn up, making mockery of the Constitution of Pakistan, he added.
Leghari had tabled this privilege motion against Khan in March, which was referred to the Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges for discussion and recommendation report.
However, the motion could not be taken up because the committee chairman was nominated on March 9.
“I do hereby give notice under Rule 58 and 59 of the Rules of Procedure of Provincial Assembly of Sindh to move this privilege motion. I, being the public representative/MPA of Sindh, do hereby move a privilege motion that Khan has used derogatory remarks for the honourable members of the Sindh Assembly during a press conference on March 13 while further criticising the cultural attire of the people of Sindh. Reflecting his degrading and bitter attitude, Khan has greatly hurt the sentiments of the people of Sindh,” read the motion moved by Leghari.
Earlier, briefing the media about the closed-door meeting of the Privileges Committee, committee chairman Isran said at least two motions were taken up by the committee – one of MPA Nawab Taimoor Talpur against former principal secretary to chief minister Sohail Akbar Shah and the other of Leghari against PML-N central leader Khan.
The first motion was deferred because the mover Talpur did not show up in the meeting. However, Shah was present in the meeting.
Isran said Khan had passed derogatory remarks against MPAs of Sindh. He was summoned on Monday to clear his position, but he did not turn up.
Following that, a letter was sent to him through the NA secretary and another to his residence through the courier service, he said.
“Khan was given an opportunity to clarify his position. However, he missed it with no earlier intimation. And again the privileges committee provides him with a chance to appear before the committee on May 21, otherwise the motion would be tabled in the assembly and a preliminary report would also be forwarded to the NA for further action,” he added.
Moreover, Muttahida Qaumi Movement members MPA Khalid Ahmed and Muqeem Alam said their party would not tolerate any derogatory remarks against Sindh and the elected representatives. Therefore, the party believes that the privilege motion moved by Leghari is valid, they added.
