Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel’s NA membership suspended for ‘vile remarks’

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq suspended Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) member Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel for the entire budget session as he was found guilty of using inappropriate language against the women MPs, ARY News reported.

While suspending the SIC member, the Speaker noted that Sanaullah Mastikhel had seriously violated the assembly rules.

“I was part of this House and such language was never used on the microphone,” said Sardar Ayaz Sadiq.

The House passed a motion by the Speaker to suspend the member. The motion stated, “Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel, MNA, uttered objectionable and indecent remarks during his budget speech.”

The decision states: “Muhammad Sana Ullah Khan Masti Khel made highly objectionable and indecent remarks in his budget speech and thereby undermined and diminished the sanctity of the House in violation of Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, 2007.”

In accordance with Rule 21 of the Standing Orders and Conduct of Business of the National Assembly 2007, the member shall immediately withdraw from the Assembly premises.

Earlier, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said he had been a member of parliament since 2002 but had never heard such words on the microphone. “I am at a loss for words to express or condemn the incident,” he added.

The discussion on the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 is underway in the National Assembly. Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, who is supported by the Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI) and later joined the SIC along with other MPs, participated in the discussion and allegedly used inappropriate language against the women MPs of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa, who was presiding over the session at the time, switched off Sanaullah Masti Khel’s microphone, but his remarks had already caused an uproar in the National Assembly.

The women MPs of PML-N gathered in front of the podium and protested against the SIC member. They also reached the Speaker’s Chamber and demanded the suspension of Sanaullah Masti Khel.

Read more: Zartaj Gul was in tears after the episode with Tariq Bashir Cheema

In a similar incident, Tariq Bashir Cheema of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) recently used abusive language against PTI leader Zartaj Gul.

While addressing the assembly, PML-Q MP Tariq Bashir Cheema was interrupted by Zartaj Gul, who referred to the Bahawalpur incident.

Following his speech, Cheema approached Zartaj Gul’s seat, which led to a heated exchange of words, which allegedly included verbal abuse, prompting the SIC members to protest against the incident.

According to the details received, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry have apologised to the SIC members, while the SIC has demanded registration of an FIR against the PML-Q member.