National Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi has asked the fellow parliamentarians to enact strict laws for punishing violators of the sanctity of the Parliament. National Assembly session on Tuesday again witnessed uproar as lawmakers from PTI again used derogatory remarks against parliament. Lawmakers from other political parties strongly condemned remarks against parliament. Chairing the session of the NA, Deputy Speaker urged Parliamentarians to punish such immature politicians, who often curse Parliament and use derogatory language against the Parliament so no one could dare violate its sanctity. He said Parliament was being cursed by some immature politicians sans any cogent reason. It is duty of each Parliamentarian to ensure its sanctity. Persons involved in defaming Parliament would be ousted from politics after being declared cursed. Parties involved in defaming Parliament should be barred from participating in politics. Deputy Speaker ruled that the whole nation curses immature politicians who do not respect Parliament. Remarks made last week about parliament by the ruling PTI’s chairman also reverberated in the provincial assembly. At a rally in Lahore last week, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan had cursed the current parliament. Imran’s ally, Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed had announced to resign from parliament in the same rally. There was uproar in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly as PTI lawmakers not only endorsed the views of their party chairman but also repeated the remarks. These remarks infuriated lawmakers from the opposition benches who demanded that Zargul apologise. Deputy Speaker’s suggestion to enact strict laws for punishing violators of the sanctity of the Parliament is very pertinent and need of the hour. Attitude shown by PTI lawmakers is condemnable because being a supreme institution of the state parliament deserves respect. National Assembly Speaker should ensure the protection of the Parliament’s sanctity and should take stern action against those who used derogatory language against it. This attitude of lawmakers has sent wrong message to abroad and also defamed democracy in the country. All political parties should use parliament for the legislation of welfare of the people and progress and prosperity of the country. PTI lawmakers should avoid such negative politics and should focus in highlighting public issues. This is the only way they can stay relevant in the politics. It is the responsibility of the government and all political parties to take steps for the smooth functioning of parliament and strengthening democratic system.
