Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq. File | Photo Credit: X/@AyazSadiq122
Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday (September 11, 2024) suspended five security officials. Arrest of opposition MPs from jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party From Parliament House.
Mr Sadiq, a leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), took this step after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party on Tuesday (September 10, 2024) entered the Parliament in plain clothes and arrested party MPs, including party president Gauhar Ali Khan. The parties involved in the coalition government have also expressed displeasure over this action.
Members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), both allies of the government, expressed dissatisfaction over the arrests and warned that it would further escalate tensions.
“The speaker was very angry after the incident as it exposed his inability to protect the rights of his fellow MPs. He vowed to hold the attackers accountable and punish them. Sadiq took action after an investigation,” sources said.
According to an official statement, Sergeant-at-Arms (BPS-20) Muhammad Ishfaq Ashraf was suspended for 120 days.
“During the period of suspension, he shall be entitled to receive pay and allowances as admissible under the rules in force,” the order said, adding that the action was taken under Rule 5(1) (suspension and leave) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
In a separate notice, suspension orders were issued for security assistant Waqas Ahmed (grade-14 officer) and three junior security assistants (grade-9 officers), including Obaidullah, Waheed Safdar and Muhammad Haroon.
All four were suspended for 120 days and became entitled to receive pay and allowances as per applicable rules.
PTI leaders faced the wrath of authorities after they held a rally in the suburbs of Islamabad on Sunday (September 8, 2024), demanding the release of their leader Imran Khan and warning to get him out of jail through street protests.
Apart from controversial speeches made by some leaders, there were also clashes between PTI workers and the police, resulting in several police officers being injured.
The 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician is facing several legal cases and has been in jail for over a year after being sentenced in a corruption case.
Imran Khan was arrested on August 5 last year after being convicted in the first Toshakhana corruption case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Since then he has been in jail in different cases.
Top leaders of Imran Khan’s party PTI arrested outside Parliament in Islamabad
Police filed cases against PTI workers and MPs following the clashes. At least 11 MPs were among those arrested and only PTI chairman Gauhar Khan has been released so far.
Addressing the parliament, Gauhar announced boycott of the proceedings and said only nine to ten members would be present to show symbolic presence. “This is our protest,” the PTI leader said, making it clear that the PTI will not resign from the parliament or any assembly.
Speaking to the media after his release on Tuesday evening (September 10, 2024), Gauhar termed the arrests as an attack on Parliament and September 9 as a “dark day for Pakistan”.
“PTI will not forget this,” he said. “This time the CCTV footage will be made public and this time the common man will not be punished.” He said the government targeted PTI, but the party forgave it for the sake of the country, people and democracy.
He warned that non-political elements would become stronger if the largest political party was not given space. “Militant and separatist movements will become stronger,” he said. He also announced to challenge the arrest of other party leaders in the High Court.
Published – September 11, 2024 05:21 PM IST