PML-N, SIC lawmakers trade barbs in National Assembly

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The lawmakers belonging to the rival parties in the National Assembly exchanged barbs when they got a chance to speak in the House on Thursday.

Speaking in the National Assembly, PTI-backed MNA and a nominee for prime minister’s post Omar Ayub thanked the people of his constituency and Imran Khan. He said that the “PTI members” gathered in the assembly as they wanted to register their protest.

“The oath we have taken states that we will obey the rules. This House is incomplete. Our women members are in jail those that were supposed to be sworn in were not named in the list,” he said.

PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that former prime minister and PTI founder chairman Imran Khan still lived in people’s hearts.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA), he said it was thought that by imprisoning Imran, people would forget him. “But that did not happen,” he said, and added, “Despite the fact that so many restrictions were imposed, people voted for the PTI in the general elections in large numbers that placed the party well ahead of other parties.”

Gohar further said that restoration of democracy in the country was Imran’s vision.

He said it was so unfortunate that different tactics were used to stop the PTI from contesting the elections. “The party was even deprived of its election symbol,” the PTI leader said.

Earlier, the maiden session of the 16th National Assembly witnessed commotion as PTI-backed lawmakers chanted slogans and PML-N’s Khawaja Asif waved a wristwatch in response.

PTI’s Barrister Gohar said on the NA floor that “no crosstalk was allowed during the point of order” he had raised. After that, Khawaja Asif was given the chance to speak but slogans against him erupted.

He then took off his wristwatch and waved it towards the opposition, an apparent reference to the Toshakhana case against Imran Khan.

Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf then adjourned the National Assembly session till 10am tomorrow (Friday) following a ruckus in the lower house of the Parliament.