PTI-SIC MP Sanaullah Mastikhel suspended for using foul language

ISLAMABAD:

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday suspended Sanaullah Mastikhel, a member of the Pakistan Movement for Justice-Sunni Ittehad Council (PTI-SIC), for the remainder of the budget session for using obscene language on the floor of the House.

The NA spokesperson regretted that such inappropriate words had never been used on the microphone during his address to the Assembly, but said that he lacked the words to condemn such indecent language from a fellow legislator.

The uproar began in the Lower House of Parliament when a PTI-SIC MP used an expletive – referring to a male genitalia – against Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and claimed that the PTI-SIC MPs had entered the assembly through votes but the others had taken a different route.

Hearing the obscene words, the PTI-SIC MPs laughed and started banging on the tables, while the government committee members protested against the use of vulgar language and demanded Mastikhel’s suspension.

Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah, who was presiding over the session during Mastikhel’s speech, deleted the swear word before taking a break. Later, the NPA Speaker came in person and not only condemned the use of unparliamentary language in the House but also read out the motion to suspend Mastikhel for the remainder of the budget session.

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The Speaker read out that Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, MNA, made highly objectionable and indecent remarks in his budget speech during the session of the National Assembly on June 22, thereby undermining and diminishing the sanctity of the House.

Sadiq added that the act was a violation of Rule 30 of the National Assembly’s Rules of Procedure, 2007. He also said that the authority of the Chairperson had been disregarded and the rules had been abused by deliberately disrupting and obstructing proceedings.

In the subsequent vote, the motion was supported and consequently carried. The Speaker said that the member should immediately leave the Assembly premises in accordance with Rule 21 of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly 2007.