• Speaker cites abuse of assembly staff; House approves suspension motion moved by PML-N lawmaker
• PTI seeks meeting with Imran as opposition stages walkout
• Party decides to attend budget session, record protest
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Thursday suspended PTI lawmaker Muhammad Iqbal Khan Afridi for the entire budget session, with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq accusing him of repeatedly violating the sanctity of the House through “inappropriate and unparliamentary” conduct.
The speaker said multiple complaints had been received regarding the lawmaker’s “abuse” of NA employees.
He added that the MNA had also behaved improperly towards the NA’s director general (media) and security officials.
“No leniency can be shown to such a member,” he remarked before directing the sergeant-at-arms to remove the lawmaker from the hall of the House.
The speaker further alleged that the PTI MNA had misbehaved with security personnel outside parliament and had been involved in a scuffle with police at a checkpoint near Serena Hotel.
“Through his threatening conduct, Muhammad Iqbal Khan has undermined all parliamentary traditions,” he said, adding that the member had “misused his office”.
The suspension followed a motion moved by PML-N legislator Farah Naz Akbar that was approved by the House.
The motion accused the PTI MNA of repeatedly using abusive and threatening language towards NA Secretariat officials, security personnel, fellow lawmakers and the chair.
It also cited incidents on April 3 and May 13, 2026, during which he allegedly disrupted proceedings, challenged the authority of the chair and violated parliamentary decorum.
According to the motion, the MNA was formally named under Rule 21 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure.
The speaker said the suspended MNA would not receive any allowances, including travelling and daily allowances, during the session.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry informed the House that Mr Afridi’s son had applied for political asylum in Italy using a blue passport. The speaker referred the matter to the Standing Committee on Interior.
The sitting began under the speaker’s chairmanship but was briefly adjourned after Mr Afridi pointed out a lack of quorum at the outset.
Meeting with Imran sought
Speaking in the House, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan sought a ruling from the speaker on arranging a meeting with the party’s “founding chairman”, Imran Khan.
He said the party had earlier demanded the formation of a House committee under Syed Khursheed Shah.
“When the issues of members of parliament are not resolved, then who do we talk to?” he asked.
He said the committee had met twice and no meeting had been called since.
“For the past 34 weeks, we have not been allowed to meet the founder,” he said. “If our voice is not heard, we will call a joint parliamentary party meeting. Then we will decide the future.”
He asked the speaker to decide by the following day whether a meeting would be arranged.
Following his speech, opposition members walked out of the House in protest.
In response, the speaker said: “If they were members of the NA, I would have issued their production orders.”
Speaking in the NA, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called on all political parties to respect the sanctity of parliament.
The PTI, after a meeting of its parliamentary party, has decided to attend the budget session.
However, it has also decided to record its protest during the session.
It is worth mentioning that there was a proposal to boycott the budget session.
With input from Ikram Junaidi
Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2026