The National Assembly witnessed heated proceedings on Thursday after PTI MNA Iqbal Afridi was suspended for the remainder of the ongoing budget session. The decision was taken following allegations by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who accused the lawmaker of inappropriate behavior toward assembly staff, media officials, and police personnel.
According to the Speaker, Afridi’s conduct was unacceptable and violated the decorum expected within the House. As a result, a motion seeking his suspension was presented by government member Farah Naz Akbar and was approved through a majority vote.
During the session, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq instructed the Sergeant at Arms to remove Afridi from the assembly chamber. He also announced that the suspended lawmaker would not receive any session-related benefits, including allowances, travel expenses, or daily allowances throughout the budget session. Afridi later chose to leave the House on his own.
The controversy began when Afridi repeatedly pointed out a lack of quorum shortly after the session started. His first objection resulted in the proceedings being temporarily adjourned because the required number of members was not present. Later, another quorum check confirmed sufficient attendance, allowing the session to continue.
However, when Afridi raised the issue once again, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed frustration and stated that quorum calls could not be made every half hour. The Speaker emphasized that parliamentary procedures must be followed responsibly to ensure smooth legislative business.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly successfully passed the Pakistan Telecommunication Re Organisation (Amendment) Bill 2025. Several amendments were discussed, including proposals related to dispute resolution for 5G fiber infrastructure projects and changes concerning the retirement age of appellate tribunal judges.
Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar criticized the upcoming federal budget, claiming it would not provide adequate relief to the public. He argued that rising inflation and increasing utility costs had already placed significant pressure on citizens and urged the government to introduce measures that would benefit ordinary Pakistanis.
