Islamabad, 17 May 2024, (GNP): The National Assembly on Friday suspended legislator Tariq Bashir Cheema from the session over his offensive spat with PTI’s Zartaj Gul Wazir.
Tariq Bashir Cheema delivered a speech in the assembly on Thursday, during which he was halted by Zartaj Gul who jibed that he should talk about the Bahawalpur University case instead, in which Tariq Bashir Cheema’s son was doubtful.
When he was returning to his seat after meeting with the PTI’s Ali Muhammad Khan, Zartaj Gul passed a remark which reportedly made Tariq Bashir Cheema angry and he went to Zartaj Gul’s seat and was seen murmuring something in her ear.
Members of the PTI-SIC were seen rushing towards the treasury benches, some of them even running over benches to physically attack Tariq Bashir Cheema, who was escorted out by some treasury MNAs.
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As soon as he returned to his seat, opposition members started gathering in front of the speaker’s table and lodged a strong protest, alleging that Cheema had used very objectionable and offensive language and demanded action against him.
Later, PTI legislators went to the speaker’s chamber and demanded the suspension of Cheema’s membership.
Talking to the media, PTI members including party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed the development, stating that Gul had accepted the apology.
However, Gohar declared they would put forward a motion on Friday seeking Cheema’s suspension for the remaining of the ongoing session.
“Everyone advised me that ‘now that Cheema has come to you, you should let go of the matter’,” she told reporters.
Putting forward a motion to suspend Cheema for the remaining session, NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq stated that during Thursday’s sitting: “An unfortunate incident took place between Tariq Cheema and Zartaj Gul.”
According to the motion, Cheema violated Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, which states that no members may “erode” the “sanctity” or “dignity” of the house.
The speaker named him under Rule 21 of the same act, which gives the speaker the power to suspend members who abuse the rules “if he deems it necessary”.
“He thereby eroded the sanctity of the house hereby disregarding the authority of the chair and abusing the rules and willfully obstructing the proceedings”, he added.
MNAs present were overwhelmingly in favor of the suspension and passed the motion. Speaker Sadiq stated he will try to keep the house in order and praised the members for their role yesterday.
After Cheema was excluded from Thursday’s sitting, Zartaj Gul thanked parliament for the move after yesterday’s “upsetting incident”.
“Yesterday, a very upsetting incident took place in the National Assembly.” Her post added that Cheema’s entrance to the House was restricted by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. “Thank you Parliament of Pakistan,” she wrote.
