Intense bedlam on Monday revisited the National Assembly because of Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain’s firm stand not to allow prayers for those killed in Dargai and Bajaur Agency. Resultantly, slogans like “Go Musharraf Go, America’s friend is a traitor” followed at a sonorous pitch from MNAs belonging to the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Some Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) members also joined the protest in a low profile.When the MMA MPs insisted on offering “Fateha” for those killed in Bajaur Agency and Dargai, the speaker adjourned the proceedings in a huff for 15 minutes so that order returns. The opening of the proceedings was sombre and smooth as the speaker, according to the out-of-House understanding, permitted opposition MPs to pay glowing tributes to deceased former MNA Abdus Sattar Afghani of Jamaat-e-Islami that he had not permitted on the first day of the session.
After commending Afghani’s services, Hafiz Hussain Ahmed started offering “Fateha” for him and others. As he mentioned in his “Dua” those killed in Dargai and Bajaur, Chaudhry Amir cut him short, switching off his mike and gave the floor to another MMA MP, Qazi Gul Rehman.
Hafiz Hussain asked his colleague to continue “Fateha” that he did, and at the end, he also mentioned those who fell victim in the Bajaur Agency airstrike. The speaker abruptly deferred the sitting for 15 minutes and retired to his chamber. The MMA MPs gathered before his rostrum in his absence and chanted slogans for 20 minutes. Chief whip Nasrullah Dareshak tried to pacify the agitators but none paid any heed to his meek efforts. When the speaker returned to the House after the interlude, he deeply regretted the protesters’ attitude and approach and said it disgraced and humiliated the House. It was against the rules, he said.