LAHORE: Punjab Assembly acting speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar on Wednesday suspended another opposition MPA, Mian Ejaz Shafi, for 15 sittings over his ‘objectionable’ remarks during the ruckus that took place in the Assembly last Monday.
The opposition MPA, however, claimed that his remarks are on record and contain no unparliamentarily language. The Punjab Assembly session, chaired by Speaker Malik Zaheer Iqbal Channar, began after a delay of two hours and thirty-one minutes, as per routine. Due to the absence of the members concerned, the Question Hour was postponed.
Deputy Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi raised a point in the House, stating that ahead of the August 5 protest call, raids were being conducted at the homes of their party workers and leaders. He also demanded a transparent investigation into the suspension of two opposition members earlier on Monday and the entry of unauthorised individuals into the media briefing hall. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman responded by saying that peaceful protest is the opposition’s democratic right, and if needed, the government would stand with them in support. However, Acting Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar said that Ejaz Shafi had hurt the sentiments of a woman official and did not apologise for his remarks. His actions and words are detrimental to the order and decorum of the House’, said the ruling issued by the chair.
This is noteworthy that during the disorder in PA on Monday while Opposition MPA Khalid Nisar Dogar attacked a ruling party legislator Hassaan Riaz, MPA Ejaz Shafi also stated that PMLN MPA (Hassaan) should be thankful to the DC due to whom he had become the member of this House.
‘Therefore, under Rule 210, Ejaz Shafi is being suspended for 15 sittings’, the order said. Ejaz Shafi, however, maintained that he did not utter any objectionable words.
During the session, verbal clashes continued between government and opposition members. After completing the agenda, the session was prorogued. In this session that was prorogued on Wednesday, three Opposition MPAs have faced suspension over disciplinary issues and that include Khalid Nisar Dogar, Sheikh Imtiaz and Ejaz Shafi. Eja Shafi is one of the senior MPAs of opposition who have been the member of the assembly between 2002 to 2007, 2008 to 2013, 2013 to 2018 and now elected for the fourth term. He has also served as a provincial minister in past.
