On Monday, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan justified his decision to file a disqualification reference against 26 opposition members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) for “unparliamentary conduct.”
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the speaker stated that he has consistently endeavored to fulfill his duties as a responsible custodian of the House.
He further elaborated, “I have always acted as a good custodian of the House, but I cannot permit the use of vulgar language on the assembly floor.”
Responding to critiques regarding the invocation of constitutional provisions, Malik Ahmad said: “While I personally oppose Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution… they do empower the speaker to take action when lawmakers violate the established rules of parliamentary conduct.”
The Punjab Assembly speaker’s press briefing follows his submission of a disqualification reference against 26 PTI-backed opposition MPAs to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) days earlier.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with ECP officials in Islamabad, Malik had affirmed that he had already submitted the reference and that the day’s meeting was convened to seek legal counsel on related matters.
The disqualification reference was lodged subsequent to the disturbance witnessed during the Punjab Assembly budget session when opposition members engaged in sloganeering and disrupted the proceedings.
In an order dated June 27, the speaker, utilizing powers conferred under Rule 210(3) of the Rules of Procedure 1997, suspended the opposition members for a total of 15 assembly sessions.
