26 Opposition MPAs suspended for disrupting Punjab Assembly proceedings

Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has suspended 26 opposition lawmakers belonging to PTI for 15 days after their protest during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s presence in the House, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

During Friday’s budget session, the opposition MPAs holding placards raised slogans and disrupted the proceedings.

The suspended lawmakers have been accused of disorderly behaviour in the house, including tearing agenda papers, chanting slogans, and disrupting proceedings. The action was taken under Rule 210 of the assembly regulations.

Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan termed the Opposition MPs’ behaviour a violation of rules and ordered disciplinary action. “This House cannot be allowed to descend into chaos,” said the speaker, adding that order must be maintained.

The opposition termed the move undemocratic and announced a protest. A PTI leader said, “Even if you expel them for 15 years, the war against the government will continue.”

Addressing a news conference in Lahore on Saturday, Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan announced that he will forward a reference against these 26 PTI  lawmakers to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The PA speaker said that the suspended PTI members violated the sanctity of the House. “We cannot allow anyone to take the House hostage. Let no one be misunderstood, my decisions are protected by the Constitution. I will send a reference against those who do not listen to the parliamentary leader,” he added.

The PA Speaker defended his decision to suspend the lawmakers, calling it necessary to preserve decorum.

The Speaker emphasised that the sanctity and order of the house must be upheld at all costs. He noted that Rules 223 and 210 were breached and warned that strict measures are necessary to maintain discipline.

The suspended lawmakers included Malik Fahad Masood, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Kaleemullah Khan, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali, Ahmad Mujtaba Chaudhry, Shahid Javed, Muhammad Ismail, Khayal Ahmad, Shahbaz Ahmad, Tayyab Rasheed, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Rashid Tufail, Rai Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Khalid Zubair Nisar, Chaudhry Muhammad Ijaz Shafi, Eman Kanwal, Muhammad Naeem, Sajjad Ahmad, Rana Aurangzeb, Shahbaz Amir, and Usama Asghar Ali Gujar.

Heavy fines imposed on 10 MPAs for vandalism

The speaker also slapped heavy fines on 10 lawmakers for resorting to vandalism in the Punjab Assembly.

He imposed over Rs2 million fine on 10 MPAs who stood on their desks and broke the mics.

He ordered every member to pay Rs203,000 fine for damaging government properties

Those who were fined included Chaudhry Javed Kausar, Assad Abbas, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, Riffat Mahmood, Muhammad Ismael, Shahbaz Ahmad, Imtiaz Mahmood, Khalid Zubair Nisar, Rana Aurangzeb and Muhammad Ahsan.

Reporter Rao Dilshad Hussain