Tensions flare up in NA over Noor Awan-Sheikh Rasheed issue

ISLAMABAD: The issue of a man, Malik Noor Awan, accosting Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed outside the parliament became a heated topic of discussion between opposition and government members during the National Assembly session on Friday.

Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah raised the issue in the Parliament and asked, “who brought the unrelated person to the Parliament?”

“The person [Noor Awan] entered without a pass and was issued a pass later. His pass was signed by the deputy speaker [of the assembly]. How was he allowed to enter the vicinity?” Shah asked.

An investigation will be ordered as soon as more details regarding the man who accosted Sheikh Rasheed is received, said Speaker Ayaz Sadiq

An FIR was registered on the day of the incident, till night he was in custody, he added.

The opposition leader then showed a photograph of Noor Awan to the Parliament, where he can been seen pictured with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

This angered the government members and led to a ruckus in the House, with members of both the benches chanting ‘shame shame’ slogans.

Man accosts Sheikh Rasheed outside NA, alleges politician owes him money

Awami Muslim League leader has filed a case against Noor Awan at the Secretariat Police Station

After this, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali passionately started speaking without a mic.

Other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders, Sheikh Aftab and Rana Tanveer, tried their best to stop Ali but he did not listen to them and continued speaking.

“They [the opposition] speak about democracy today. We were placed in Sahiwal prison in a Kalashnikov case,” he remarked.

“Do not get personal,” Shah said while responding to Ali. “Please don’t tell me what to say. This is parliament; it is not someone’s personal shop,” he retorted.

“You want to suppress the voice of everyone here,” Ali added.

The ruckus led to a 15-minute break during the session. The speaker also summoned Shah to his chamber.

Awan gets bails

A case was registered against Noor Awan by Rasheed on Thrusday for harassing him.

The police had requested the court for judicial remand of the suspect but Awan’s lawyer filed a petition seeking dismissal of the judicial remand.

The court thus ordered dismissal and granted bail to Awan against a surety bond worth Rs50,000.

Speaking to the media, Awan said that he is being blamed for no reason. “The justice that I got was that I was arrested.”

“I just asked for what is mine. I will go to the Supreme Court,” he added.