Tag: Asad Qaiser

  • ‘We have not been pressing for dialogue’: Opposition seeks written assurances from govt on legislation

    ‘We have not been pressing for dialogue’: Opposition seeks written assurances from govt on legislation

    Members of the united Opposition on Thursday met National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser twice and asked him to give them in writing the terms of engagements, which should include a categorical statement that it was the government that approached them for dialogue, reports Dawn.

    “We are going to communicate to the Speaker that he should give us in writing because we do not want to hear that we (the Opposition) have been pressing for a dialogue,” said the parliamentary leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Senate Sherry Rehman.

    “The steering committee will consider further action after receiving legislation in writing from the Speaker regarding the bills and ordinances to be discussed in the joint session,” said Sherry. “We believe in the supremacy of parliament and dialogue but obviously, our leadership will take the final decision after the steering committee deliberations,” she added.

    Former Speaker NA Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said, “The Speaker called me and Naveed Qamar and said he wanted the government and the Opposition to sit down and talk about the 20 bills related to the ordinances. We responded that we will talk to the party leadership first.”

    The Opposition parties had formed a steering committee on Wednesday to formulate a joint strategy after the government postponed Thursday’s joint session of parliament.

    The Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari termed the government’s decision of postponing the joint session as their victory.

    “The hasty convening of the joint meeting and then the hasty adjournment shows the seriousness of the government that had made sensitive and serious issues like legislation a child’s play,” said Shehbaz.

    Bilawal said “Kaptaan bhag gaya” (the captain ran away), sharing President Arif Alvi’s notification for the postponement of the session.

  • Joint parliamentary session postponed: Fawad Chaudhry

    Joint parliamentary session postponed: Fawad Chaudhry

    Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter and announced that the joint parliamentary session, which was earlier called by President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday (November 11) has been postponed.

    Chaudhry said that electoral reforms are extremely important for the future of Pakistan. He said that the government wants a consensus on this issue, which is why Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has been asked to contact the Opposition again and build a consensus on electoral reforms bill. Chaudhry added that this is why the joint session has been postponed.

    “We hope that the Opposition will seriously consider these important reforms and we will be able to come up with a common strategy for the future of Pakistan, ” he added.

    On the other hand, the “united” Opposition said they were certain that their members would be present at the joint session and had agreed to defeat the government bills on electoral reforms, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance and other bills.

  • Govt successful in negotiating with TLP, maintain secrecy over details

    Govt successful in negotiating with TLP, maintain secrecy over details

    Officials from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Sunday claimed that they had reached an ‘agreement’ with the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in order to end the nearly two-week-long protests.

    The government’s negotiating team members Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan, along with Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman were present at the press conference.

    “The government of Pakistan and the TLP held detailed negotiations in an environment of mutual trust and an agreement has been reached between the two sides,” said Mufti Muneeb.

    The details of the negotiations have yet not been made public, Mufti Muneeb said its details would be made public at an ‘appropriate time’. He, however, said its ‘positive results’ would be visible to the nation next week or during the next 10 days.

  • Asad Qaiser states press gallery closed in consultation with journalists, journalists deny

    Asad Qaiser states press gallery closed in consultation with journalists, journalists deny

    National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said that he closed the doors of the press gallery during President Arif Alvi’s speech to a joint session of parliament after getting ‘reports’ that there was a possibility of a ruckus between two journalists’ groups.

    The speaker while speaking to journalists, claimed that he made this decision after consulting the Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA).

    “I couldn’t afford a fight between two groups in Parliament which could have resulted in the disrespect of media and the House,” Qaiser said adding, “however, there was some misunderstanding.”

    After Qaiser’s claims, the PRA categorically denied the speaker’s statement and challenged him to name the journalists who met him as PRA representatives, reported Dawn.

    “PRA delegation has not met the Speaker National Assembly nor has the PRA been taken into confidence over the closure of the Press Gallery,” says the statement issued by PRA’s information secretary Malik Saeed Awan.

    “PRA delegation has not met the Speaker National Assembly nor has the PRA been taken into confidence over the closure of the Press Gallery,” says the statement issued by PRA’s information secretary Malik Saeed Awan.

    “PRA strongly condemns this black lie of the Speaker”. Awan demanded an inquiry to determine which delegation met with and misrepresented the journalist organisation.

    In a first in Pakistan’s history, reporters were not allowed to enter a joint session of Parliament on Monday, September 13.

    Parliamentary reporters were to be present in the press gallery for the president’s address but entered the hallway to find that the door was locked. The press gallery was closed for the journalists.

    PRA strongly condemned the closure of the press gallery and said, “Closing the gallery is the worst dictatorship.”

    Pakistani journalists protested in front of the Parliament House against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA), which aims to muzzle media freedom. The protest started on Sunday, September 12, Journalists marched from the National Press Club to the Parliament House and stayed overnight.

  • Send domestic violence bill to Islamic council, suggests PM’s aide

    Send domestic violence bill to Islamic council, suggests PM’s aide

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan has written a letter to Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser suggesting that the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2021 should be sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology to check if the proposed law is or is not “repugnant to the Injunctions of Islam”.

    Journalist Ansar Abbasi shared the news on Twitter and congratulated Prime Minister Imran Khan for this step.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari had asked, “Can someone tell me which clause in the bill is against our religion?”

    “This law is not only for women but men can also file a case using it,” Mazari added.

    Senate passed two key government bills related to human rights last month, which include the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2021 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Bill 2021.

    Analyst Ansar Abbasi took to his Twitter account to oppose the bill.

  • National security briefing: key takeaways

    National security briefing: key takeaways

    A meeting of the National Security Committee was held on Thursday.

    Speaker National Assembly (NA) Asad Qaiser had summoned a session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on July 1 for an in-camera briefing on the latest regional situation in light of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed briefed the lawmakers. The army chief was also present at the briefing, which went on for about eight hours.

    According to senior journalist Fahd Husain, the major takeaway from the meeting was how the military and intelligence leadership emphasised that while ties with China were well built and thriving and could not be foregone, a strong relationship with the United States (US) would have to be maintained.

    A senior parliamentarian told Dawn that although there were clear indications of an impending “strategic reorientation” of the foreign policy because of the geo-political developments, it was also obvious that there was no desire for being seen “overtly pro-China”.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan’s absence too was a matter of varied significance. One member of the Opposition questioned the PM’s absence from the crucial juncture gathered, to which the army chief reportedly said that the Opposition did not want the PM to attend this briefing, hence his absence. Speaker Asad Qaiser said that his office had received a message that if PM came to the briefing, the Opposition would review its presence and involvement in the briefing. However, this claim was unequivocally denied by the Oppositon.

    Senior Journalist Saleem Safi, tweeted about the major higlights of the briefing stating that the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are one from within due to their ideological connection.

    Around 6,500 TTP fighters, currently based in Afghanistan, may reconnect with the Afghan Taliban in the event of the fall of Kabul. This concern is said to be based on the Afghan Taliban’s past track record of not taking on the TTP.

    According to reports, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and later Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto raised the issue of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) lawmaker Ali Wazir’s release. They were told that any criticism against the army will not be tolerated and Ali Wazir will have to apologise.

    When lawmaker Mohsin Dawar was stopped from talking by Speaker Asad Qaiser, army chief asked him to speak openly.

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto also spoke at the briefing, apart from a few other participants.

  • In-camera briefing for lawmakers on Afghanistan, national security

    In-camera briefing for lawmakers on Afghanistan, national security

    Speaker National Assembly (NA) Asad Qaiser has summoned a session of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security on July 1 at 3pm for a briefing on the latest regional situation in light of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

    Speaker Asad Qaiser will chair the in-camera meeting. The meeting will discuss the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan. Leader of the Opposition in NA Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and other lawmakers will attend the meeting. Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Defence Minister Pervez Khattak will also be part of the in-camera meeting from the government’s side. Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani will also attend the meeting as well as other parliamentarians.

    Bilawal Bhutto tweeted that he had demanded on the floor of the house that the parliament be briefed on the Afghanistan situation by the relevant departments and institutions. “We welcome Speakers decision and will participate in NSC committee meeting on the topic.”

  • Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    Shehbaz Sharif’s third try at budget speech a fail

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser adjourned the NA session minutes after it started on Wednesday as the treasury members continued their protest for the third consecutive day to disrupt Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif’s budget speech.

    Shehbaz, surrounded by sergeants, tried to deliver his speech amid sloganeering but was cut short.

    Meanwhile, Qaiser repeatedly called on the parliamentarians to be seated but eventually adjourned the session after an object was thrown at the speaker’s dais.

    “I will not conduct this House (NA) until both the government and the Opposition [settle their matters],” said Qaiser before walking out, adjourning the session till tomorrow (Thursday).

    Shehbaz, during his speech, condemned yesterday’s incident and said it was Qaiser’s duty to maintain the sanctity of the House and run it in accordance with the law.

    “I am saddened by your helplessness,” he said, alleging that the behaviour of treasury members had been authorised by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.

    “It was your duty to stop this,” added Shehbaz.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar claimed in a tweet that the Opposition had attacked him within minutes when the session started. He added that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Muhammad Akram Cheema was also injured by a bottle thrown at him.

    “Worried by the economic improvement and popular budget, the opposition wants to run away from discussion on the budget in the House by engaging in confrontation,” added Asad.

    Spokesperson for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the Opposition was again insulted by the government benches.

    “They [government] want to attack the parliament and the system. They want to attack the Speaker’s seat,” added Marriyum.

  • No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    No-confidence motion to be moved against NA Speaker Asad Qaiser

    The Opposition has decided to jointly move a no-confidence motion against National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser, after two days of ruckus in the National Assembly.

    The decision of tabling a no-confidence motion against Qaiser was reached when Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto met in the NA earlier today to discuss the way forward after yesterday’s session.

    In this regard, the joint Opposition leaders also agreed to form a committee that would be tasked with tabling the motion. However, the names of its members are under consideration.

    The Opposition members said that Tuesday’s session was the darkest day in the history of democracy, with the Speaker failing to fulfil his constitutional, legal, democratic, and parliamentary responsibilities.

    “Asad Qaiser is not qualified to fulfill this duty,” said one of the Opposition members.

    The Opposition demanded that a parliamentary committee be established with equal representation from treasury and Opposition benches to probe the ruckus that had transpired in parliament.

  • PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    PML-N blames PM Imran of being responsible for ruckus in the National Assembly

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) accused Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of being responible for yesterday’s ruckus in the National Assembly (NA). Khaqan alleged that after the PM was called ‘Donkey King’, he tasked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians to heckle the Opposition. Khaqan revealed on Express News‘ talk show, ‘Kal Tak with Javed Chaudhry’ that a PTI member told him this. Khaqan termed the ruckus as an attack on the parliamentary system.

    Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Khaqan asked for Speaker Asad Qaiser’s resignation. He said that ministers were using filthy language in front of the Speaker but he couldn’t do anything. “If the Speaker had any respect he should have resigned in protest if he can’t do anything.”

    “The NA Speaker has failed to deliver. He had already lost our trust and now has lost his government’s as well.”

    Khaqan further said the Speaker himself has said he cannot do anything as he is “under pressure”.

    https://youtu.be/Hub–QYT7-w
    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Express News

    PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal also accused the PM of conspiring against the Opposition. “[Asad] Qaiser was asked by the Prime Minister that when our [government] ministers were heckling the Opposition, why did he adjourn the session.”