Temporary suspension recommended for Javed Latif, Murad Saeed

ISLAMABAD: To prevent more scuffles in National Assembly, a committee recommended temporary suspension of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders for quarreling.

The committee recommended on Monday to suspend PTI’s Murad Saeed for two days and PML-N's Javed Latif for eight days from the National Assembly.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, can announce the decision to suspend the two members upon the recommendation of the committee.

A member of the committee, Shahibzada Tariq Ullah said that the committee’s decision will set an example for similar cases in future. The investigation into the case was completed on the first meeting of the committee, said a source.

While speaking on the issue, committee’s conveyer Ghous Bux Khan Mahar said that the decision has been taken after evaluating all evidence and video recordings.

On the other hand, Saeed refused to accept any restriction from the assembly. “People are only looking at my punch and not Latif’s foul talk,” he remarked while speaking to Geo News on Monday. He said that Latif’s words have stayed with him. “I don’t accept my suspension from assembly or any other restriction.”

The tug-of-war between the two leaders began on March 9, when the two engaged in a scuffle outside the National Assembly. The scene was caught on camera and remained in headlines throughout the day.

Later, a video circulating on social media showed the PML-N leader allegedly slandering PTI leader Saeed’s female family members. The next day, PTI leaders staged a walkout in the National Assembly and demanded suspension of Latif.

Later, Latif appeared before the media and regretted his remarks. He confessed that in a fit of rage he had uttered some inappropriate words.

Latif’s actions were condemned by State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb. "All what Javed Latif said was inappropriate. He apologised for his remarks and he was supposed to do so," she said.

However, the PTI leaders were still not pacified. On Sunday, PTI chairperson Imran Khan said that he was awaiting an action from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif against the PML-N lawmaker. “If he [Nawaz Sharif] doesn’t take an action against him [Jawed Latif], then I would consider Nawaz Sharif is also involved in this”, he added.