ISLAMABAD: After months long delay, the National Assembly on Friday passed a motion authorising the NA Speaker to nominate members of the standing committees and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the recommendations of the parliamentary parties’ heads.

The motion was moved by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Naveed Qamar for constituting all standing committees of the house, which was adopted unanimously.

The house also passed a motion authorising the speaker to constitute parliamentary friendship groups to promote friendly relations with the assemblies of other countries.

Taking the floor, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif asked the speaker to minimise the level of presence of guests of the elected members in the galleries.

He said this is important not only for security but also to maintain the dignity and honour of the house.

The NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that he has issued clear directives for the confiscation of mobile phones from media personnel, social media influencers, and others if they are found making videos of lawmakers when they are arriving or leaving the Parliament premises.

The directives were issued citing “security threats”, with the promise that strict action would be taken against media personnel, influencers, guests, or any individuals if they were found stopping lawmakers and making their videos within the premises of Parliament House.

“I’ve spoken to the interior minister, as well as, IG Islamabad… we’re going to take strict action,” he said while confirming that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s security concerns were “valid” before adding that “we have also confirmed the security threats”.

“It may look a bit surprising that the Parliament House is located in the Red Zone where security is always on alert as many important buildings, including the Supreme Court, PM House and the Presidency, are located here”.

It is also the same area where the PTI had staged its marathon sit-in in 2014 and where the JUI-F forcefully staged a rally during the PML-N-led PDM government’s tenure, he added.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has been vocal regarding the issue and repeatedly urged the speaker to take strict action, stating that his portfolio also allows him to specify security threats.

Elaborating on the security threats to the parliament, Asif said that scores of people are present at any given time at the Parliament House and they chase lawmakers from the entry point to the elevators and from the gate to the parking areas. He added that the vehicle used in the Dasu attack travelled across the country before it reached Dasu.

“Anyone can enter this (parliament) building. There are no security checks” Asif said.

Demanding restrictions citing security threats, the defence minister said around 100 supporters of a political party were present in the galleries earlier and were sloganeering.

“The people sitting in galleries have never shouted slogans,” Asif said on the floor of the house, ignoring all the past incidents where slogans were shouted in favour of other political parties.

“Respect and dignity of the house is violated when people sitting in galleries shout slogans,” he continued. The minister urged the speaker and staff to allow the minimum number of people, adding that the practice of shouting slogans in the parliament should also be discouraged.

“Neither is this Mochi Darwaza, nor its D-Chowk where one should bring his or her supporters for sloganeering,” Asif said, reminding the speaker that he has visited the speaker’s office four to five times in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024