National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has suspended Sergeant at Arms Muhammad Ishfaq Ashraf for four months due to a security lapse in the Parliament. The decision follows the failure to prevent the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers within the premises of the Parliament House.
In addition to Ashraf, four other security personnel have been suspended for the same period. These include Security Assistant Waqas Ahmed and three junior officers: Obaidullah, Waheed Safdar, and Muhammad Haroon.
The move comes amid heightened political tensions following the arrests of several PTI members by Islamabad police. The arrests, which occurred within Parliament’s grounds, sparked outrage among PTI leaders and Speaker Sadiq, who reprimanded Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi and demanded the immediate release of the lawmakers.
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The detained PTI members, including prominent figures such as Barrister Gohar Khan, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Zain Qureshi, were taken into custody following the party’s public rally in Islamabad on Sunday. The arrests were reportedly linked to violations of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024.
PTI members accused the government of using “masked men” to whisk away their lawmakers, a claim the government has denied, promising action only if proof is provided.
The Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has ordered an investigation into the incident, stating that he will take legal action against those responsible for breaching parliamentary protocol.
