–Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri directs Ali Muhammad Khan to look into issue
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Tuesday criticised the manner in which a member of parliament, Ali Wazir from South Waziristan, was arrested by the military and then sent on an eight-day remand by an anti-terrorism court in Bannu.
Raising the issue in the National Assembly, PPP lawmaker Naveed Qamar said the NA speaker should have been intimated of Wazir’s detention in line with the rules of procedure of the House.
Qamar read out Rule 103 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in NA, 2007, according to which the speaker must be informed if a member of parliament is arrested.
The speaker should then inform the members of parliament about the development, according to Rule 105.
However, contrary to the rules, the members of the house learnt about Wazir’s detention in media reports instead of being informed by the speaker.
Rule 103 reads: When a member is arrested on a criminal charge or for a criminal offence or is sentenced to imprisonment by a court of law or is detained under an executive order, the committing judge, magistrate or executive authority, as the case may be, shall immediately intimate such fact to the Speaker indicating the reasons for the arrest, detention or conviction, as the case may be, as also the place of detention or imprisonment of the member in the appropriate form set out in the Fourth Schedule.
The speaker should then “read it out in the Assembly if in session or, if the Assembly is not in session, direct that it may be circulated for the information of the members”, according to Rule 105.
Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, who presided over Tuesday’s session, directed Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan to look into the matter.
YOUM-E-TAKBIR:
Speaking in the House in connection with Youm-e-Takbir, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals are a source of great pride for the entire nation. He said Pakistan was faced with internal and external challenges and time warrants unity to tackle them.
He said Pakistan will move forward on the path of progress and development under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Earlier, PML-N Leader Khawaja Asif said that nuclear test on this day made Pakistan’s defence impregnable. He said that Pakistan became a nuclear power due to the efforts of elected governments. He said it was time to work towards strengthening democracy in the country.
