The speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qiaser has issued Production Orders for high profile leaders of the two opposition parties, Asif Ali Zardari from (PPP) and Khwaja Saad Rafique from (PML-N).
The orders were issued late Wednesday night and were received by PP leader Shazia Marri, Qadir Patel, Shagufta Jumani and Agha Rafiulla.
The orders for Ex-President Zardari states that, “In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 108 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly 2007, the Honourable Speaker has been pleased to summon Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Member, National Assembly to attend the said session at the Parliament House, Islamabad,” the order. You are therefore directed to produce Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Member, National Assembly at the commencement of each sitting of the National Assembly before the Sergeant-at-arms at the Parliament House, Islamabad, who shall, after the conclusion of the sittings deliver him into your custody accordingly.”
A similar order was issued for Khwaja Saad Rafique as the speaker believed that the under arrest leader should participate in the session, discussing the budget. Both of the MNAs are under arrest by NAB over corruption and fraud charges. While the former president Asif Ali Zardari is nominated in fake accounts case, former railway minister Khawaja Saad Rafique in under trial over Paragon Housing Scheme scandal.
Immense pressure was exercised by the party leader on the speaker of the National Assembly to issue the production order at several times. Even today, before the speech of the opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif on the budget, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized for the issuance of the production orders of above mentioned arrested MNAs including Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar from PTM. He even blamed that the order was not being issued as preventive measures for adverse voting against the budget.