Shah Khahqan Abbasi writes open letter to Speaker National Assembly

Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has written an open letter to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser on Thursday.

According to details, In an open letter to the speaker National Assembly, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accused Asad Qaiser’s office of failing to carry out its responsibility in ensuring the attendance of detained legislators through production orders.

Shahid Khaqan said that he has always stressed on timely issuance of production orders of the arrested MNAs however, nothing has been done in this regard so far.

Speaker office has failed in ensuring attendance of all the parliamentarians in the sessions, the letter stated.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi further demanded to indiscriminately issue production orders of all the detained members so that they can also attend the assembly meetings.

On July 18, 2019, the anti-corruption watchdog had arrested Shahid Khaqan Abbasi near Thokar Niaz Baig toll plaza in connection with an ongoing investigation into the ‘illegal’ award of the LNG contract with Qatar.

The apex court on September 10, 2018 directed the NAB to complete the inquiry against Abbasi and others for the alleged corruption in the LNG contract.

Speaker office has failed in ensuring attendance of all the parliamentarians in the sessions, the letter stated.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi further demanded to indiscriminately issue production orders of all the detained members so that they can also attend the assembly meetings.

Abbasi argued, “As members of the National Assembly, through his inherent right as a chosen representative of the people of Pakistan, only has one basic privilege; to be able to attend the proceedings of the house to exercise the will and aspirations of the people of his constituency.”

“It is the fundamental and inherent responsibility of the speaker of the National Assembly, as the elected custodian of the house, to ensure that members are able to attend the proceedings of the house unhindered and to ensure that any obstacles to their attendance are removed.”

Abbasi regretted and continued, “I have to state on the record that your [Asad Qaiser] office has failed to carry out its responsibility in ensuring the attendance of detained members of the house by timely and non-discriminatory issuance of production orders.”

The PML-N leader gave examples as an illustration of the issue and said, “The last session of the National Assembly was summoned to meet on July 29, 2019; my production orders were issued on August 5, 2019. The joint sitting was summoned to meet on August 6, 2019; my production orders were received after the second session had started on August 7, 2019.”

Abbasi said that he had addressed correspondence on both the issues to the NA speaker’s office but did not receive any reply.