PTI's protest in NA inaugural session leaves ruling MNAs red-faced
Pakistan
PTI candidates reiterated the house was incomplete without reserved candidates
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The National Assembly's inaugural session was adjourned until Friday after a war of words between the MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Newly-elected MNAs took the oath administered by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday. As the speaker allowed the MNAs-elect to speak on point of order, the opposition benches raised slogans against the PML-N leaders and did not allow Khawaja Asif to utter a word.
Asif, in retaliation, brandished a wristwatch - which is symbolic of PTI founder's alleged involvement in the Toshakhana scam.
Also read: Bouquets and brickbats - MNAs-elect take oath in National Assembly session
Omar Ayub, the PTI nominee for the prime minister slot, asserted that the House was incomplete as he referred to the barring of the party from having reserved seats and the imprisoned PTI candidates unable to take oath.
He showed picture of Aliya Hamza, nominated for women's reserved seat, saying she wasn't allowed to take the oath as she was in jail.
Barrister Gohar argued how the speaker and deputy speaker's election could be conducted when the House was incomplete. He requested the National Assembly speaker to postpone the election of House representatives until reserved seats were allocated to the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) which includes PTI candidates.
Read more: Fazl sceptical about assembly term completion
He affirmed that his party, PTI, had emerged victorious by securing 186 seats and those on the other side of the aisle were strangers as they held office disrespecting public mandate.
He insisted that no one should sit in the House and hold office without public mandate, emphasising the importance of the rule of law and justice for the progress of the country.
When Khawaja Asif stood up for his turn to speak, the PTI members chanted slogans of 'vote thief'. In response, Khawaja Asif waved a wristwatch.
Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf directed the members to respect the decorum of the House and let others speak but the opposition refused to budge. The speaker adjourned the session until 10am on Friday.
Related news: Nomination papers for National Assembly speaker, deputy speaker submitted
