Punjab Assembly Speaker Defends Disqualification of Opposition MPAs Over Assembly Disruptions

LAHORE – Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan on Monday defended his recent decision to file a disqualification reference against 26 opposition members of the provincial assembly (MPAs), citing their “unparliamentary conduct” during the budget session.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Malik Ahmad stated, “I have always acted as a good custodian of the House, but I cannot permit the use of vulgar language on the assembly floor.” He emphasized that while protest is a constitutional right, it must be exercised within limits. “Tearing budget documents, climbing on desks—this cannot be justified as democratic expression,” he said.

The disqualification reference, submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), follows chaos during the Punjab Assembly’s budget session. Opposition members, primarily from the PTI-backed bloc, disrupted proceedings with slogans and aggressive behavior.

In an official order dated June 27, the speaker invoked Rule 210(3) of the Rules of Procedure 1997 to suspend the involved members for a total of 15 assembly sessions. He confirmed that lawmakers had been suspended or served notices for repeated violations of assembly decorum.

Responding to criticism over invoking constitutional provisions, the speaker said, “While I oppose Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, they do grant the speaker the authority to take action when lawmakers violate parliamentary conduct.” Referring to these clauses as “remnants of dictatorship,” he stressed that they are still part of the Constitution and should be applied uniformly. “It cannot be that these articles are selectively used. Either remove them from the Constitution or apply them uniformly,” he asserted.

Malik Ahmad also recalled that some MPAs had previously urged him to act under Article 63(2), citing the Panama Papers ruling as a precedent. “If a prime minister can be disqualified on false statements, then those who disrupt the sanctity of the House must also be held accountable,” he stated.

The speaker extended an offer of dialogue to the opposition, urging them to engage in talks. “Sit down and talk. There’s still time,” he said, adding that the assembly cannot be allowed to turn into a theatre of chaos.

The disqualification reference names the following MPAs: Malik Farhad Masood, Muhammad Tanveer Aslam, Syed Riffat Mehmood, Yasir Mehmood Qureshi, Kaleem Ullah Khan, Muhammad Ansar Iqbal, Ali Asif, Zulfiqar Ali, Ahmad Mujtaba Chaudhary, Shahid Javed, Muhammad Ismael, Khayal Ahmad, Shahbaz Ahmad, Tayyab Rashid, Imtiaz Mehmood, Ali Imtiaz, Rashid Tufail, Muhammad Murtaza Iqbal, Khalid Zubair Nisar, Ch Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, Saima Kanwal, Muhammad Naeem, Sajjad Ahmed, Rana Aourang Zaib, Shuaib Ameer, and Usama Asghar Ali Gujjar.

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