Islamabad: Speaker of the National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, has requested video footage of all gates and entry/exit points of Parliament in a bid to ascertain responsibility for the recent arrests of lawmakers within Parliament’s premises. This action follows various points of order raised by members during a heated session.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Speaker expressed his distress over past attacks on Parliament by a political party and its affiliate, describing these incidents as unfortunate during his tenure. He pledged to consult with all political parties to ensure stringent measures are in place to prevent future occurrences.
During the session, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar criticized the PTI for instigating a culture of animosity in politics. He specifically condemned the inappropriate remarks made by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towards the military leadership, women, and journalists, highlighting a longstanding misuse of government resources for personal gain in the region.
Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif reflected on the events, linking recent disturbances to previous provocations and stressed the need for a moderated approach to safeguard national unity and integrity. Similarly, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain emphasized the unacceptability of derogatory attacks on women and state institutions, hinting at a firm governmental stance against such behaviors.
The session also addressed corporate and financial reforms, with Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain denying any plans to shut down the Utility Stores Corporation, instead discussing its restructuring and the protection of employee rights. Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed the government’s dedication to promoting Islamic banking, announcing the introduction of new Sharia-compliant financial instruments.
The assembly session saw the introduction of important legislative measures, including amendments to enhance judicial operations and environmental protections, which were subsequently referred to their respective standing committees for further deliberation.
The House is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow at 11 a.m.