NA chronicles: PTI offers ‘cooperation’ as government offers ‘goodwill’

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly session witnessed an unexpected display of conciliation on Monday, as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) extended an olive branch by offering “cooperation and constructive engagement” in parliamentary proceedings.

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In a reciprocal move, the government demonstrated a significant gesture of goodwill by retracting the suspension of two PTI lawmakers, whose entry had been prohibited by the speaker following disruptive behaviour during a joint sitting of parliament last week, Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The motion to rescind the suspension order against PTI MNAs Jamshed Dasti and Mohammad Iqbal Khan was initiated by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and swiftly approved by the assembly through a voice vote, following reconciliatory speeches from members on both sides of the aisle.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq had suspended the membership of the two lawmakers for the remainder of the current session for causing disturbance during President Asif Zardari’s address to the joint sitting of parliament on April 18.

This unexpected turn of events sparked optimism among lawmakers, hinting at a more harmonious and productive parliamentary session.

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However, PTI MNA Shahid Khattak made a speech that suggested that this cooperation might be short-lived or part of a strategic manoeuvre ahead of the formation of standing committees. Just before the adjournment of the Monday’s session, Khattak declared that the PTI would not allow the house to function until their founding chairman Imran Khan was released from jail.