The National Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution to condemn Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan and chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid Ahmad for their derogatory and indecent remarks against the Parliament at a rally in Lahore on Wednesday night. "This House strongly condemns the time and again use of words 'Laanat' and 'Laanti' by the PTI chairman Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid at a public meeting in Lahore," the resolution says.
The resolution moved by Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman says that Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid have made intentional attempts to damage respect and dignity of the House of which they also happen to be members. "By insulting the House, they have also humiliated over 200 million people of the country which is highly condemnable act," the resolution said.
The resolution further mentioned that there was no room for any other system in the country in presence of the Parliament, as it represents the people of Pakistan. The resolution which was adopted by the House in absence of the PTI members was signed by members of the PML-N, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), PkMAP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah also lambasted Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid for using derogatory remarks against the Parliament. "The opposition may have the right to abuse or criticize the government but nobody has the right to abuse the Parliament," Asif said, adding they would not allow anybody to abuse the Parliament.
He said that Imran and Rashid have no moral qualities like shame, respect and dignity. "They return to the Parliament by crawling after tendering their resignations which they are abusing now," he said adding that he could say with guarantee that Shah Mahmood Qureshi had requested the Speaker that resignations of PTI parliamentarians might not be accepted.
"The House should also be apprised as to what facilities the PTI members continued to accept when they were not attending proceedings after tendering resignations," he said. Observing that both Imran and Rashid have breached privilege of the House, he requested the chair to constitute a privilege committee in which the two persons should be called and they should be arrested if they do not turn up.
He said the PPP and the PML-N have given numerous sacrifices for the democracy and it is their responsibility to protect the sanctity of the Parliament. Commenting on role of Dr Tahirul Qadri, the foreign minister said the man who was present on the container had nothing to do with Pakistan, rather he is a Canadian citizen.
Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said it was painful to hear abuses used for the Parliament which was an umbrella of safety for them, questioning Imran Khan as to what would be next option for him if there is no Parliament. "Do you want to invite a dictator after locking the Parliament and then you will bow down before him," he said, adding that it does not make difference if anybody wants to resign but the Parliament should not be blamed.
He said they want to see strong courts, armed forces and other institutions. "We want to see a strong army for defence of the country while the courts are making independent decisions," Khursheed Shah added. "I have been receiving calls from people that I should also speak like that but I always say Pakistan Zindabad (long live Pakistan), Democracy Zindabad, Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and Parliament Zindabad," he said.
He said that they did not insult the institutions even when cases were framed against the PPP leadership and the judges were asked to give punishment to Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, saying audio tapes in this connection still exist in record of the court. Shah said their elected prime minister was shown the door within seconds but still they did not curse and insult the institution and never said that they did not want Pakistan.
He pointed out that Zainab tragedy in Kasur was condemned and they also termed it a failure of the Punjab government but attempts were made to hide such crimes in Mardan and Dera Ismail Khan. Earlier, lawmakers from both opposition and treasury benches strongly criticized both the leaders for using derogatory remarks against the Parliament and asked the Chair to form a privilege committee on it.
At least four members from PTI were interested to respond to these lawmakers but they failed to get the floor. They including Amjad Khan Niazi, Ghulam Sarwar, Shehryar Afridi and Sajid Nawaz were engaged in exchanging harsh words with the MNAs of PPPP and PML-N. Later, PTI's MNA Amjad Khan Niazi without getting the floor used derogatory words for all the lawmakers sitting in the House and announced to tender his resignation from the House.
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