ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) members staged a boisterous protest in the National Assembly on Monday, calling for a general debate on the matter of the letter that six judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) wrote, alleging that they were being watched by the nation’s intelligence agencies and that they were interfering in court proceedings. The speaker and the Treasury benches referred to the letter as a sub judice matter.
The PTI MPs gathered in front of the speaker’s dais, carrying placards with slogans demanding justice for the judges and the release of Imran Khan. When the speaker attempted to perform some regular business, they shouted loud and passionate cries, disregarding their request for a debate on the judges’ situation.
PTI leader Omar Ayub raised a point of order, telling Speaker Ayaz Sadiq that the opposition had sent the NA Secretariat an adjournment motion regarding the judges’ issue. He asked the secretariat to permit a general debate on this topic, claiming that the agenda it had published “does not reflect the reality.”
According to Mr. Khan, the judges’ letter revealed “the role of agencies” and how they meddled in the legal proceedings against the former prime minister Imran Khan.
Calling it a sub judice subject, Minister Tarar
However, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa had already taken a suo motu notice and scheduled the hearing, according to Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, therefore the topic was sub judice and could not be discussed in assembly.
Aamir Dogar, the chief whip for the PTI, said that the judges’ letter had created a “constitutional crisis” and that the parliament ought to address the issue given the judiciary’s significance as a pillar of the state.
Asad Qaiser, a top PTI leader, stated that the speaker ought to exercise his authority under the rules to permit a discussion on the matter because it was “sensitive.” “The entire country is experiencing trauma because if judges lose their prestige, if decisions are made by dictating to them, applying pressure to them, and installing cameras in their homes, then this is a delicate issue,” Mr. Qaiser said, pleading with the speaker to permit the discussion.
Speaker Sadiq declared that he will make a decision on the subject while taking the issue’s sensitivity into consideration. He advised them to wait for the case’s resolution if the issue was sub judice.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the chairman of the PTI, stated that the judges had indicated in the letter that there was still “interference” in both legal and political cases. He insisted that the legislators be given the opportunity to discuss the issue and offer solutions to stop this kind of “interference.” In addition, he suggested that the chamber adopt a resolution denouncing the “interference.”
When Noor Alam Khan entered the floor to criticize the PTI members for bringing up the judges’ matter rather than talking about the “real public issues” of price hikes and power crises, the members of the PTI raised slogans denoting turncoats.
PTI members became enraged with Mr. Khan, who left the party to represent the opposition JUI-F in the house, when he urged them “to think of the country, instead of thinking only about one person.”
But Sher Afzal Marwat, another fiery PTI leader, voiced his worries about the rise in terrorism and the murder of foreigners, especially Chinese nationals, and he called for a discussion on the subject.
The speaker began by swearing in ten recently elected members, nine of whom were from the PML-N and one from the MQM.
The president’s prorogation order, which adjourned the meeting for an undetermined duration, was then read out by the speaker.
