Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadi, has summoned the Inspector General of Islamabad Police, along with the SSP Operations and DIG, to his chamber.
Sources reveal that the Speaker has directed the police officials to provide immediate details regarding the arrests made, individuals currently in custody, and the specifics of the cases related to the recent attack on the Parliament building.
THe speaker called the IG on the phone during a chamber meeting with representatives of all parties being present.
The Speaker has also requested video footage from the Cabinet Secretariat, Gate One, Gate Five, and the lobbies from the Sergeant-at-Arms.
Speaker Sadiq has made it clear that such an attack on Parliament is unacceptable. He held a phone conversation with the police officers, keeping the speakerphone on, allowing all the members present in his chamber to hear the discussion.
Earlier during the National Assembly session, Sadiq expressed displeasure over the arrests made from inside the parliament and said that he would get an FIR registered if he must.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that there couldn’t be a better statement than what the speaker made.
He described the matter as an issue of the sanctitiy of the parliament.
Addressing the Assembly, the head of the Sunni Ittehad Council, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, stated that he and his colleagues were present in the Parliament building the previous night to fulfill their constitutional duty.
He described how masked individuals entered the building at 3:16 AM, turning off the lights in the rooms where members were sitting. He alleged that Aamir Dogar, Zain Qureshi, Sheikh Waqas Akram, and Naseem Shah were arrested during this incident.
Hamid Raza expressed concern for the whereabouts of Ahmad Chhutta and Owais Jhakhar, who were also present. He challenged the authorities to arrest him if they wished, stating that he would willingly face any FIR filed against him.
He claimed that only four individuals were named in the FIR, and that those arrested were apprehended by force, with some even being grabbed by the neck.
He further alleged that mobile phone torches were used to search for and arrest members, and that Gohar Khan was forcefully put into a car after being grabbed by the collar.
PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan stated that members faced great difficulty in reaching the Parliament House today.
He referred to the events of the previous night, stating that arrests are not a major issue in a democracy, citing the example of the PTI founder who was imprisoned despite consuming four bullets.
Khan asserted that his case is not a political one but rather a matter of Parliament. He described the events of the previous night, where members had to seek refuge in the Parliament House, and masked individuals entered the building, arresting members even from the Parliament mosque.
He claimed that the stain on Parliament’s reputation from last night’s events surpasses even the 9th of May incident, and that this attack is directed at the Speaker and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, while addressing the National Assembly, stated that when someone says “No Imran Khan, no Pakistan,” what kind of reaction is expected? He argued that such statements justify the reactions witnessed yesterday. He claimed that yesterday’s actions were a reaction to the events of the day before, where Pakistan’s existence and federation were challenged. He questioned what else could be expected after such provocations.
Asif further criticized the PTI’s constant calls for dialogue with the military, calling it a problem of their political DNA. He stated that they repeatedly seek the military’s intervention because they were launched into politics by the military.
During Asif’s speech, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan interrupted and created a commotion by standing up from his seat.
Asif continued, claiming that yesterday’s incident was part of a larger pattern. He pointed out that military targets were specifically chosen during the May 9th events, questioning how any protection could be expected after such actions. He accused Khan of playing a drama and doing nothing, reminding him that Khan was part of the cabinet that imposed Article 6 on him. He sarcastically remarked that Khan is now screaming after having stepped on his tail.
Asif further criticized the PTI’s shifting stances, pointing out that the Chief Minister of a province had challenged the federation. He questioned the legitimacy of the PTI’s claims of military support and their sudden U-turns. He stated that they were given 15 days for Imran Khan’s release, but instead, they threatened attacks. He concluded by saying that they will wait for their actions.
