LAHORE – Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said that if a prime minister can be disqualified for misstatement, then why can’t those who turn the House into a mockery face the same consequences.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Malik Ahmad Khan said that some members of the assembly had been suspended and notices were issued to others.
“The opposition leader questioned whether I have the authority to send a reference or not. Much has been said and written against my ruling,” he stated.
He added that during the budget session, budget copies were torn, chaos ensued, and even the finance minister was attacked.
“Shouldn’t there be some limits and rules for protest within the House? I do not support the idea that the Leader of the House or the Opposition Leader should be prevented from speaking. My case is about safeguarding the rights of 120 million people of Punjab,” he said.
The speaker further stated that many members had asked him to act under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution but he was against invoking those clauses. “Articles 62 and 63 are symbols of dictatorship and have been misused against democracy. I will not exceed my constitutional mandate by even an inch. Alternatively, a decision could also be made under Article 148,” he added.
Malik Ahmad Khan recalled that PTI had supported the speaker’s authority during Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification under Articles 62 and 63. “Justice Asif Saeed Khosa granted the speaker the authority to declare a seat vacant. If a Prime Minister can be disqualified for misstatement, why not those who ridicule the Assembly? Are those objecting to my reference in their right minds?”
He warned that if the parliamentary party fails to resolve the issue internally, a decision under Article 63(2) will follow.
“There are still 26 to 27 days left to decide on the reference against the opposition members. The suspension of 26 members was done on the request of government lawmakers,” he noted.
The speaker further stated that PTI’s entire democratic narrative seems focused against the PML-N.
“Members approached me with requests under Article 63(2) to protect the dignity of the House. I am not targeting anyone—I am defending the sanctity of the Assembly. I am a political person, and my politics does not rely on anyone’s disqualification,” he added.
