A jirga on Thursday amicably resolved the dispute between two members of the National Assembly - Mian Javed Latif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Murad Saeed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) -, thereby saving their membership of the legislature from being suspended.
A six-member committee of National Assembly constituted by the NA Speaker after probing the incident that had occurred between the two MNAs outside the house and exchange of harsh words between them inside the house, had recommended that memberships of both the MNAs Latif and Saeed be suspended for eight and two days, respectively.
However, a jirga headed by Shah Jee Gul Afridi and comprising Sahibzada Tariqullah, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqoob and Aftab Ahemd Sherpao intervened in to the matter and succeeded in getting settled the dispute between the two MNAs.
Speaking on the floor of National Assembly, Latif regretted over the remarks he had said about the family members of Saeed and tendered an unconditional apology.
"I, not only withdraw my words, but I'm also ashamed of my utterance about the family members of Murad Saeed," he said, adding: "I also apologize from his [Murad] family members. I said those words in the heat of the moment and I apologise for all those remarks," he clarified.
Latif said that wrong meaning was derived from the contents of his speech on the floor of National Assembly.
Saeed thanked the jirga members for resolving the issue, though he did not use the word of apology in his speech.
He, however, vowed to continue raising voice against corruption and injustice in the country. He said that women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also given sacrifices for the sake of peace in the country.
PMN's Mian Abdul Mannan also thanked the jirga for settling the dispute among the two MNAs, saying he also wanted to apologise for hurting the feelings of Saeed.
PPP legislator Ejaz Jhakrani said that the family members of anyone should not be dragged into politics.
Awami Muslim League president Sheikh Rashid Ahmad observed that the issue could have been resolved inside the house, had the chair acted properly in time.
On this Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that the chair was fulfilling his responsibilities in a better way. He said that the untoward incident occurred outside the assembly hall and the Speaker acted promptly and formed a six-member inquiry committee to probe into the incident. Both sides demonstrated a parliamentary spirit and accepted the decision of the jirga, he added.
Later, responding to a call-attention notice moved by Khalida Mansoor regarding non-availability of life-saving drugs like Florinif tablet, Hydrocartizan and TB medicines in the country, especially in Islamabad, Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Dr Darshan told the house that the TB medicines are available in hospitals. However, he said that no one has applied for registration of the life-saving drugs like Florinif tablet and Hydrocartizan.
He further said if a doctor of a public sector hospital prescribes these medicines, the hospital was bound to import these medicines through prescribed procedure.
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