The National Assembly on Friday expelled PMI-Q MP Tariq Bashir Cheman from today’s session for his harsh remarks against PTI’s Zartaj Gul Wazir.
Chema spoke at Thursday’s assembly, where Gul interrupted Chema’s son to speak about the Bahawalpur University allegations.
On his way back to his seat after meeting PTI’s Ali Mohammad Khan, Gul said something that upset Cheman and he was seen going to Gul’s seat and whispering something in his ear.
PTI-SIC members were seen running towards the treasury benches, some even ran through the benches to physically assault Cheman, who was escorted by several treasury MNAs.
As soon as he returned to his seat, members of the opposition began to gather in front of the speaker with the intention of protesting that Mr. Cheman had used very hateful and insulting language and demanded action against him.
Later, PTI members of Parliament went to the Speaker’s Chamber and demanded the suspension of Cheman’s membership. Informed sources told Dawn that NA spokesperson Ayaz Sadiq called Chem and apologized “unconditionally” to Gul.
Talking to the presspersons, PTI members together with the head of the party Barrister Gohar Ali Khan accepted Gul’s apology. However, Gohar said they will seek Chema’s suspension for the rest of Friday’s session.
“A sad incident happened between Tariq Chema and Zartaj Gul,” NA speaker Ayaz Sadyk said at Thursday’s meeting.
According to the motion, Chema violated Rule 30 of the 2007 Rules of Business and Conduct in the National Assembly, which states that no member can damage the “sanctity” or “dignity” of the house.
The Speaker named him under Rule 21 of the same act, which authorizes the suspension of members who abuse the rules “if deemed necessary.”
“Thus, he violated the sanctity of the house […] by defying the authority of the chair and abusing the rules and willfully […] obstructing the process,” he said.
The participating MNAs supported the suspension and accepted the motion.
Speaker Sadiq said he would try to keep the house in order and praised members for the role they played yesterday.
