Tensions rose in a raucous session of the National Assembly following the administration of oaths to newly elected members, as Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed his party’s frustrations over alleged obstruction during their election campaign.
Speaking on the House floor, Khan, a PTI leader who won as an independent candidate, stated that people had sent them to the assembly by giving them a mandate, and that they had a mandate in accordance with Form 45, which he showed the speaker. He said his party had gained 180 seats in the legislature.
“No one can sit in the House without a public mandate,” he added.
Gohar cited a Supreme Court decision confirming that only persons with a popular mandate should hold seats in the assembly. “People give us the oath to fulfil our duties. Those sitting on the other side of the House are strangers,” he remarked, claiming that the House was incomplete without the allocation of reserved seats for women.
However, the session was interrupted by disruptions and member exchanges when Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf granted the floor to Khawaja Asif of the PML-N. The speaker took action to maintain order and guarantee that all voices were heard.
“The whole country is watching you. You took use of your opportunity; now allow others to speak. Speaker Ashraf urged the opposition members, explaining that the House could not function if they only spoke and did not listen.
He reminded Barrister Gohar that no one interrupted him when he was speaking, and asked him to listen to people silently now, as speaking emotionally was not good.
