ISLAMABAD: The six-member inquiry committee formed by the National Assembly speaker to investigate the incident of a scuffle between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Javed Latif and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Murad Saeed on Monday completed its task and recommended “temporary suspension” of the both the members.

Sources told Dawn that the committee headed by Ghous Bux Mahar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional had recommen­ded that the membership of Mr Latif and Mr Saeed be suspended for eight and two days, respectively.

Besides this, the two members will also be required to apologise for their misconduct on the floor of the assembly after completion of their suspension period.

Both MNAs had scuffled at the entrance to the Parliament House soon after the National Assembly session on Thursday after Mr Latif in his speech on the floor harshly criticised the PTI chief and dubbed him a “traitor”.

Committee wants the two to tender apology for scuffle

Mr Saeed attempted to punch Mr Latif when he was coming out of the Parliament House after the two had already had a brawl at the main lobby.

Mr Saeed later said that the PML-N MNA had used abusive language against his party chief thus provoking him to get physical.

When contacted, Mr Mahar refused to disclose the findings of the committee, saying he had submitted the report to the speaker and it was now his prerogative to make it public and announce a final verdict.

Hours after the incident was flashed by electronic media, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq set up the committee to hold an investigation and submit its report by March 16. The committee, however, finalised its recommendations in its first meeting after seeing the CCTV footage and the reports of the Parliament House’s security staff.

Other members of the committee are Sahibzada Tariqullah (Jamaat-i-Islami), Sheikh Salahuddin (MQM), Aijaz Jakhrani (PPP), Shahida Akhtar Ali (JUI-F) and Ijazul Haq (PML-Zia).

Meanwhile, PTI chairman Imran Khan held a meeting to devise the strategy after the announcement of the verdict by the NA speaker.

Sources in the PTI said that the party had decided to reject the committee’s findings, considering it a lesser punishment for the PML-N MNA. However, the participants decided to wait for the speaker’s ruling before issuing the party’s official reaction.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2017