Opposition raises alleged detention of Sohail Afridi and MNAs in National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: The opposition has raised the alleged detention of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in the National Assembly and submitted an adjournment motion to the Speaker.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and Opposition Chief Whip Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar submitted the motion under Rules 109 and 110 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure 2007.

What the adjournment motion says

The motion seeks a debate on the alleged detention of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.

It also seeks a debate on the detention of six MNAs: Amjad Ali Khan, Junaid Akbar, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Zubair Khan, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Naseem Ali Shah.

The motion says the alleged detention of elected representatives raises serious concerns about the working of democratic institutions and public representation. It says the House should therefore take up the protection of the constitutional rights and parliamentary privileges of elected representatives.

The opposition demanded an immediate debate in the House on the circumstances of the detentions. It also asked for the regular agenda to be suspended for this purpose.

Mahmood Achakzai’s speech

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai spoke on a point of order. He raised questions about the absence of members, production orders and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, and sharply criticised the government.

He said, “We have no desire to trouble people. You have ended the government of a province. Now tell us where the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and our members of the assembly have disappeared to, and whether Sohail Afridi and the others are even alive.”

He claimed that several MNAs, including Junaid Akbar, Naseem Shah, Adil Bazai and Aziz Khan, were not present in the House.

Mr Achakzai said it was the Speaker’s responsibility to secure production orders for a member even if he had committed the worst crime. He said he wanted to see his members in the House with his own eyes and that they should be allowed to speak.

Addressing the Speaker, he said, “We want nothing from you. Just hold free and fair elections.”

He said no one should be arrested or face action over what was said in the assembly. He asked what purpose parliament would serve if members were not allowed to speak.

Citing a historical example, he said that 600 years ago a king needed five members and the Speaker respected his request. He asked why, today, he was not being heard when he raised his voice for the presence and rights of his members.

He added, “Make whatever law you want to make, but you will also have to face the consequences.”

Mr Achakzai demanded that other members present in the House, including Sanaullah Mastikhel and Kundi, should also be allowed to speak.