ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly passed a resolution calling for the formation of a committee to probe MNA Ayesha Gulalai’s allegations against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will form the committee. The committee will present its report in the house within one month after completing investigations. The whole proceedings of the committee will be in-camera.
The resolution, put forward by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Arfa Khalid, calls for the committee to hold in-camera proceedings over the issue and submit its investigation report in a month.
The speaker has been asked to form the committee and include members of both treasury and opposition benches in it. The resolution was supported by the PML-N, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement.
PTI members were not present in the assembly when the resolution was taken up. The prime minister, in his address in the assembly earlier, also called for the formation of such a committee as ‘matters of the house should be dealt with in the house’. During the session, women lawmakers also spoke on the issue.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s Naeema Kishwar called for presenting the report of the inquiry committee in Parliament. PPP’s Nafeesa Shah stressed holding an unemotional debate on the issue and wondered why the PTI was overreacting so much.
“In our society a woman who rises up for her rights faces allegations herself,” said Shah. PML-N’s Marvi Memon said Ayesha has shown courage to come out and speak. “I can say on oath that what she has said is 100 per cent true. She’s not the only one to have faced this, and by coming out she is giving strength to others who are still quiet,” she said.
PTI’s Shireen Mazari said if Ayesha has proof she should bring it forward. Mazari also lashed out at the ‘defenders of women’, saying where were they when PML-N’s Khawaja Asif used foul language against her on the floor of the assembly.
Shireen Mazari said that if investigations were to be conducted, they should start with the newly appointed foreign minister, Khawaja Asif, as he had passed offensive remarks against her on the floor of the assembly.
PML-N MNA Marvi Memon, on the other hand, paid tribute to Gulalai and thanked her for bringing the “reality before the country”. Memon said that Gulalai had given a “voice to those who have remained silent”.
“If a man had raised the matter, it would have been a different thing; a female [member] of the PTI has raised this issue,” Memon said, refuting PTI’s claims that Gulalai was being used by the PML-N to malign the party. She said that Gulalai is saying right.
Shagufta Jamani said there should be proper investigation of allegations otherwise women hesitate to join politics. She said apart from media trial, Gulalai is receiving threats including snatching of mobile phone that contains proof of the allegations. She if this kind of incidents will not stop the parents will not allow their daughters to come out from the homes.
Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi condemned character assassination of Ayesha Gulalai in the social media.Members supported the proposal of the Prime Minister and said instead of discussing the issue in the house the matter should be referred to the committee.
Naeema Kishawar also seconded formation of the special committee to investigate the serious allegations. Abdul Rashid Godail and Sher Akbar Khan said the committee would afford opportunity to the both sides to present their version. The House has now been adjourned to meet again on Monday at 4:00 pm.
