ISLAMABAD, July 29: Speaker National Assembly Dr Fahmida Mirza has suspended four officials of the assembly on the charge of facilitating some opposition members in holding a press conference in a committee room despite being personally restricted by her, sources told Dawn on Tuesday.

The speaker has also written a letter to the Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, telling him that she reserved the right to exercise her powers against those opposition members who disobeyed her and violated the rules of the parliament. Mr Elahi has, however, not sent any reply to the letter.

It may be noted that Dr Mirza had already refused similar concessions to Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to hold press conferences in the NA committee rooms.

Sources said three opposition members - Riaz Pirzada, Sheikh Waqas and Marvi Memon - approached the speaker seeking permission to hold a press conference in Committee Room No-4. Marvi, it was reported, refrained to personally appear before the speaker and stayed outside her chamber.

The speaker informed the other two members that according to the rules of the parliament, committee rooms were only meant for organising parliamentary committee meetings. Therefore, she could not grant any permission in this regard.

Sources said one of the opposition members threatened Dr Mirza that if not allowed, they would hold the press conference on the road outside the Parliament House. She then called Chuadhry Pervaiz Elahi by telephone apprising him of the `misbehaviour’ of his colleagues. Mr Elahi reportedly not only apologised but also assured the speaker that they would comply with the ruling of the speaker.

However, the opposition members went straight to Committee Room No-4 and held the press conference.

In the letter to Mr Elahi, Dr Mirza said she reserved the right to take disciplinary action against the involved members under the rules, law and established parliamentary practices. “I choose to refrain myself from any such feat on your assurance as the leader of the opposition and party head.

I earnestly hope that I have your complete support in preserving the decorum and prestige of the National Assembly and the authority of its speaker,” she said.