PESHAWAR, June 20: The combined opposition in the NWFP Assembly on Wednesday termed house proceedings since the resignation of Deputy Speaker Ikramullah Shahid 15 months ago illegal and unconstitutional.
Speaking on a point of order, Abdul Akbar Khan of the People’s Party Parliamentarians drew the attention of the assembly towards what he said violation of a constitutional requirement, saying the house was bound to elect a speaker and a deputy speaker under Article 53 (together with Article 127) of the Constitution. He quoted Rules 9 and 166 of the Business and Proceedings of the Assembly in support of his claim.
He said the house was incomplete for the past 15 months. He said it was the duty of the speaker to hold election for the vacant post in the immediate sitting of the house, but he had failed to fulfil his constitutional duty. “As the house is incomplete, its proceedings since the resignation of the deputy speaker stand illegal and unconstitutional.”
He asked the chair to give ruling on the issue and issue a schedule for the election of a deputy speaker.
He said that in the absence of a deputy speaker, the chair could not constitute a panel of successors to preside over the session if the speaker was on leave or on a foreign visit. He said that since 1937 when this assembly had started its business, it had not confronted with such a situation.
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Sardar Mohammad Idress opposed the stance of Abdul Akbar and said the house could not take up any other issue for discussion during a budget session. Former finance minister Sirajul Haq said it was a valid point, but it should be discussed some other time. He said the speaker could reserve his ruling for a day, month and even a year.
Bashir Ahmad Bilour of the Awami National Party endorsed the stand of Abdul Akbar and asked the chair to give his ruling on the issue.
Opposition Leader Shahzada Gustasap said the budget session was illegal and unconstitutional because the house was incomplete.
Sirajul Haq said there had been a silent consensus in the house for 15 months and no MPA had raised the issue. He said the house should debate the issue after concluding its discussion on budget.
The speaker said he would seek the opinion of the advocate-general on the matter and then inform the house. He said he would not give his ruling on the issue during the current session.
The entire opposition was ready to walk out of the house, but Anwar Kamal Khan of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, who had made a fiery speech against the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and inequitable distribution of funds in the province, failed to pick up the message of his colleagues, stood in his seat and endorsed views of the speaker. After that, opposition lawmakers had to change their programme.
Earlier, Anwar Kamal accused the MMA government of promoting corruption and favouritism in the province. He accused the chief minister of ignoring opposition MPAs in development schemes.
He said the MMA had failed to ensure good governance and a clean administration in the province. He alleged that the government had paid ransom for recovery of abducted people.
Pir Mohammad Khan of the MMA also criticised government policies.
