–MPA claims security staff misbehaved with his guests
LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal has suspended Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mian Tahir from attending the session for two days, who had allegedly brought illegal guests during the assembly session on Wednesday and used abusive and offensive language against the security staff, besides shouting for a considerable time in front of the speaker’s chamber.
According to an order issued by the Punjab Assembly speaker, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, MPA Mian Tahir managed entry of his guests inside the Assembly Secretariat despite the fact that a letter is issued to all the members before commencement of every session and they are requested not to bring guests during the assembly session. However, the said MPA brought guests into Speaker’s Box of Assembly Chamber and misbehaved and manhandled the security officer in front of the speaker’s chamber besides using abusive and offensive language.
In the order, the speaker said that the act of MPA is against decorum and dignity and is tantamount to demoralisation of staff of Assembly Secretariat. Taking notice of the incident, Rana Iqbal directed the MPA Mian Tahir to remain absent from next sittings of house held on October 26 and October 27.
Talking to Pakistan Today, MPA Mian Tahir said that the security staff misbehaved with him and his guests. “I took prior permission from Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Iqbal but security staff did not let my guests to come inside. The bureaucratic mindset of the security is behind insult of an MPA”.
He said he met the Punjab Assembly speaker on Thursday and told him the actual situation about the brawl. “I told the speaker that I was not at fault and therefore, Rana Muhammad Iqbal restored my membership”, Mina Tahir said. Incidents of MPAs’ brawl with security staff had occurred in the past too and the authorities concerned should take action against them, he added.
Meanwhile, it was also learnt that four guests of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah tried to enter the assembly on Thursday but they were denied entry by the security staff.
On the other hand, the Punjab government has put the Punjab Assembly security for the 32nd session on high alert. The speaker chaired a meeting of the security and directed the security staff to complete screening of assembly’s building as well as all the rooms inside the assembly. He ordered the chief security officer of the assembly not to allow any irrelevant person inside the assembly.
