PTI attaches strings to Shahbaz’s next production order
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is on a warpath against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government to avenge Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification on Imran Khan’s petition, Naeemul Haque, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, said on Sunday.
Claiming that the PML-N leadership is violating its ‘agreements’ with the National Assembly Speaker, Mr Haque asserted that Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif’s production order from now on would be issued only when he would sign a code of ethics to run the house in an amicable manner and do legislation in the best interests of the nation.
Also read: Production order right of arrested lawmakers, says Saad
The special assistant to the prime minister was speaking to media alongside PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain after a meeting at the latter’s residence against the backdrop of reports that PTI-PML-Q relations were facing some cracks.
“No one likes to see Shahbaz Sharif coming to the National Assembly and abusing the government or some individuals,” he said.
Asking the media whether legislation will come to a halt if Shahbaz Sharif does not come to the National Assembly, Mr Haque asserted that the legislation process would go on. “The PTI government wants that the opposition parties behave in the National Assembly in a proper manner during its five-year tenure,” he said, regretting that the opposition was not only allowing leaders to speak uninterrupted but also launching personal attacks.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to create a friendly environment in the assembly and had shaken hands with Shahbaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, but the opposition did not allow him to make his inaugural speech.
Only five days ago, he recalled, the PML-N leadership had met the NA speaker and promised that it would not interrupt the prime minister, opposition leader and Bilawal Bhutto’s speeches but would not guarantee interruption in any other member’s speech in the house. “The PML-N’s only political objective is to create hurdles and try that the PTI government does not succeed,” he said.
In reply to a question, Mr Haque said the ruling party had yet not discussed any plan to bring a no-confidence move for the removal of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.
Rejecting as ‘blackmail’, he said Shahbaz Sharif was made the PAC chairman to keep the assembly business going. He said 38 parliamentary committees were constituted and 18 committees’ chairmanship was given to the opposition parties.
After accepting all these demands, he added, the prime minister had asked the speaker to constitute an ethics committee to ensure no personal attacks were made in the National Assembly. The committee was constituted but all in vain, he said, adding that the opposition members booed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi during his speech and chanted slogans against Finance Minister Asad Umer.
In reply to another question, the special assistant said the government believed that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) needed to improve its performance as it was failing to meet the decision deadline of 30 days. “The NAB chief, who himself is a former judge of the Supreme Court, is not paying heed to the delay in dispensation of justice,” Mr Haque regretted.
“Years of trial simply mean justice is not being dispensed with.”
He said the government was receiving complaints from the business community of Karachi against undue harassment by NAB even over petty matters. “The PTI government is ready to cooperate with the opposition with an aim to improve the NAB working,” he said, adding that the government wanted to review all civil procedure and criminal procedure codes to make lives easier. “The government cannot tolerate that state institutions, including police, harass people,” he asserted.
About the arrest of senior minister Aleem Khan, he said NAB arrested him after he could not give money trail of the property he purchased before 2004.
PTI-PML-Q ‘rift’
The prime minister’s special assistant dispelled ‘rumours’ about any rift between the PTI and PML-Q. He said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was playing his role as the Punjab Assembly speaker. “If there are two different points of view on a certain issue, it does not mean the coalition is weakening,” he said.
Mr Haque said the PML-Q had two slots in the Punjab cabinet and would get more ministries when the federal cabinet would be expanded.
“Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi had recently met Prime Minister Imran Khan and stressed the need for strengthening the bond between the two parties.”
Speaking on the occasion, PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Husain said those spreading rumours wanted to sabotage the coalition between the PTI and PML-Q. “We have pledged to work in concert as it is the need of the hour,” he said.
Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2019
Comments (23) Closed
It's speaker of national assembly who has miserably failed to control the house in orderly manner.
If shahbaz sharif had a slightest self respect, he would have resigned the moment he was arrested by NAB. I commend Aleem khan and Babar Awan who stepped down simply at the allegation of wrongdoing. But you can not have similar expectations from those who come to power only to loot and plunder the nation.
Opposition is playing its cards well!
@Ahmed,
How can one man control a group of grown ups shouting abuse and when reprimanded, they walk out and halt the legislation process. The opposition has not once shown that they are serious in any law making, most of what they do is motivated by defending their corrupt leaders and blind opposition to any thing that PTI proposes.
Look the impression on Shabaz Sharif's face that clearly indicates guilty feeling and a very worried man. Don't issue any more production orders and send him back to jail to face his cases. Because, 'leopard doesn't change its spots' and Sharif family is master of lies and deceptions.
Politics is a high stakes endeavor.
Imran Khan needs to understand that the N league and the PPP will never allow the parliament to function in order to ensure that Imran Khan fails to deliver on his noble national agenda because if Imran Khan succeeds to only begin delivering upon his promises that will be the last nail in the coffins of all status quo corrupt individuals and parties with N league and the PPP on top of the list of losers.
The PTI govt. being amalgamate of many coalition partners, will remain a weak entity facing threats of disintegration from within and under blackmail from united opposition, constantly strugglling to stay afloat. After being forced to accept a tainted person under investigation for corruption & corrupt practices by NAB, as chairman of PAC, it has made itself vulnerable to face humiliation from emboldened opposition during parliamentary sessions, when their leadership is booed during delivery of speeches.
In addition to this SS,who by occupying chairman’s seat of powerful PAC, instead of performing his constitutional business,is also using this forum to persistently pollute the environment by issuing venomous propaganda against the govt. & NAB.
The PTI being trapped by its own doing, now wants to wiggle out & issuing statement each day, expressing its intention to rectify it. Since too much water has already passed under the bridge,political confrontations are expected in coming days
Corrupt and incompetent mafia
@AW, what IK and PTI did in previous parliament. Why crty now. Opposition is playing the same role what IK and PTI played.
Choudhrys are the best advisers of PTI government and that tells us a lot about Naya Pakistan.
Chips are down now for PTI - being in the opposition was easy, now running the gov is a totally different ball game and more so when you were parachuted in.
Gr8 move by PTI.
The opposition HV been badly exposed by PTI.. Now Shahbaz has no choice.. his tactics of rioting in NA sessions hv come to n end.
I believe that PTI led Gov should strengthen NAB more than before so that it can dispense quick justice.. We want to c Shahbaz n his cronies behind bars for all the crimes they HV committed..
Pakistan Zindabad
Govt is telling to opposition “If you dont say what we would like to hear then stay in NAB prison otgerwise all is well”. This is a start of fascism and everyone should fight it before it is too late. Opposition leader should not take dictations of what should be said in parliament and what is no go area.
@Anti-Corruption ,
If shahbaz sharif had a slightest self respect, he would have resigned the moment he was arrested by NAB.
Resigned from WHAT??
Was he the Chief Minister of Punjab at the time of arrest? Was he a Minister? Was he Chairman PAC?
Do tell us.
"... and do legislation in the best interests of the nation." Who defines the best interests of the nation, IK and his 'electables'?
Time to Taste their own medicine ....
PTi should be thankful that opposition now is not as disruptive as PTI was in opposition!! Govt needs to control its ministers first in order to bring discipline to the house!! If just Fawad Ch starts behaving like a minister, most of the other things get settled!! You can not speak like anchor or opposition member in dharna when you are representing govt!!
Unfortunate chain of events. The Government has no idea how to control the opposition. Gone are the days when bullying someone will yield the results. The current government has become restless just like its leader, who has no idea how a government functions and is now blaming opposition for that. IK could have learnt parliamentary form of Government had he shown any interest. Its not only the Will which is important its also the SKILL which one must have. I sincerely wish this government delivers, but having said that , it has now become apparent that things are difficult for them really.
PAC Chairman is never under Govt. control. He is supposed to find out the weaknesses in the Govt. accounts. How can Shehbaz Sharif accepts such undue conditions that is against the norms of parliament and democracy?
The looters will always remain loosers.
PTI ! you are reaping what you sowed.
In a free and democratic soceity even allegations .of corruption.against public office holder are enough to tender resignation and surrender himself before the court of law. Here in Pakistan a person who is stated to have been imvolved in public fund.embezzlement has become Chairman of PAC.(Public Account Committee) on the basis of collusion and connivance of few members of parliament Alas!