Senate Chairman rattles over non-production of PTI’s Senator despite orders

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed disappointment over the failure to produce Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ejaz Chaudhry in the parliament despite repeated production orders.

A day earlier, Chairman Gilani had issued production orders for senators Ejaz Chaudhry, who is imprisoned at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail, and Aon Abbas Bappi, but only the latter was produced.

Referring the matter to the Privileges Committee, the Senate chairman ruled that such disregard for parliamentary authority cannot be allowed to persist unchecked.

“The directives concerning Senator Ejaz Chaudhry have not been fulfilled, amounting to non-compliance with the lawful orders of the Chair,” Gilani ruled.

The ruling further noted that disobedience of the Senate chairman’s orders constituted a “breach of privilege” as per rule 71 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate 2012.

“I hereby refer the matter of non-implementation of the production orders concerning Senator Ejaz Chaudhry to the Privileges Committee for its consideration and report,” he added.

To conclude, he maintained, “As chairman [of the] Senate, my only endeavour is to uphold the supremacy of Parliamentarian, Rule of Law and Constitutional dictates.”

Senator Bappi, who produced in compliance with the Senate chairman’s orders, expressed gratitude to Gilani for issuing his production order.

Speaking during the session today, Bappi presented his version of his arrest made on March 6 from his residence in Multan.

He revealed that at around 8:30 am, around 20 people entered his house, raided his factory, and harassed him. “They first broke my front door, then they tied up all my houseworkers at one place,” he alleged.

Without naming any law enforcement agency, the PTI senator claimed that a joint operation was conducted as his factory was raided as well. He added he was sleeping in his room with his wife when “they banged the door so forcefully that the lock broke and they just entered”.

The issue of his arrest and alleged manhandling was highlighted during Thursday’s Senate session when PTI lawmakers including Opposition Leader Syed Shibli Faraz registered a strong protest.